CHARLES   EDWARD   KNOWLES 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


IN    QUEST    OF     GOLD 


To  my  Mother 
Eleanor  Davidson  Knowles 

this  book  is 
lovingly  dedicated 


IN  QUEST  OF 
GOLD 


BEING    A    ROMANCE 
DEALING  WITH  THE 
REMARKABLE  EXPE 
DITION  OF 

FERDINAND  DESOTO 

AND  HIS  CAVALIERS 

TO  FLORIDA  IN  THE 

YEAR  1539 

BY 
CHARLES  E.  KNOWLES 


ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 
HOWARD  M.  NESMITH 


NEW  YORK 

JOHN  LANE  COMPANY 
MCMXII 


COPYRIGHT,  1912 

BY  CHARLES  E.  KNOWLES 

All  Rights  Reserved 


PS 
352J 


C  O  N  T  E  X  T  S 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE  MUSTEK  . 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  DELAYED  SHIP 14 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE  FIRST  STOP 25 

CHAPTER   IV. 
CURAN  HOSPITALITY    34 

CHAPTER  V. 
TXTO  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN 43 

CHAPTER  VI. 
ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL 53 

CHAPTER  VII. 
UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS   65 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES 77 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  CALL  OF  THE  COAST.  .  88 


550093 


CHAPTER  X. 
THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED 98 

CHAPTER  XL 
COPPER,  NOT  GOLD 109 

CHAPTER  XII. 
PAYING  THE  PRICE   120 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION 133 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN 144 

CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR 155 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
THE  FORLORN  HOPE 166 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
THE  ABANDONED  CHASE 177 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS.  .  ,    189 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT 202 

CHAPTER  XX. 
THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY.  .  213 


CHAPTER   I. 
"THE  MUSTER." 

Only  one  thought  filled  the  young  man's  mind. 
It  was  that  of  getting  away,  away  from  the  old  town 
with  its  familiar  streets  and  the  country  round 
about  he  knew  so  well,  away  from  his  teachers,  his 
schools  and  his  unlearned  lessons,  away  from  his 
home,  its  pleasant  hours  and  a  mother's  admiration. 
Juan  de  Leon  simply  wished  to  get  away,  away  with 
the  noblest  sons  of  Spain  and  a  thousand  lovers  of 
Western  adventure,  away  from  a  place  where,  as 
a  youth,  he  had  been  a  general  favorite,  the  very 
idol  of  the  boys  of  Seville. 

Now,  the  popular  de  Leon  sought  new  worlds 
to  conquer.  His  thoughts  that  April  day  were  far 
away,  across  the  "Great  Ocean."  Standing  in  the 
ranks  of  de  Soto's  "chosen  ones,"  he  gripped  his 
lance  like  a  seasoned  veteran,  looked  not  about  him 
at  the  staring  crowd,  nor  cast  stolen  glances  at  the 
fair  damsels  who  had  come  to  view  the  muster  of 
the  men  and  watch  the  ten  ships  leave  the  little 
harbor. 

At  last  his  hopes  were  to  be  realized.  It  was  no 
longer  a  dream,  but  soldier-life  in  earnest.  His 
face  that  day  told  the  tale.  He  saw,  in  imagination, 
the  gold  and  glories  of  the  Incas  of  Peru.  He  felt 
the  joy  of  sailing  in  the  fleet,  destined,  he  believed, 
to  return  victorious  and  rich.  He  seemed  to  scent 

the  land  of  the  fabled  fountain,  and  enjoyed  the  fra- 
t 
t 


6  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

grance  of  its  distant  flowers. .  He  heard  the  persist 
ent  affirmation  of  all  who  had  gone  before,  as  they 
cried :  "Florida  is  the  richest  country  in  the  world." 

His  loyal  heart  leaped  with  pride  when  the  gallant 
de  Soto  rode  past  in  review  of  his  troops.  De  Soto 
and  the  young  de  Leon  hailed  from  the  same  town, 
and  had  been  neighbors.  Often  had  Juan  heard 
those  wondrous  tales  of  the  famous  lands  away  to 
ward  the  setting  sun.  Frequently  had  he  ridden 
with  the  Adelantado  of  Florida,  and  listened  en 
tranced  to  accounts  of  thrilling  adventures  in  Peru, 
and  unconsciously  stole  from  the  great  explorer  his 
estimate  of  the  man  who  dealt  so  treacherously  with 
the  noble  Incas,  and  when  de  Soto  let  fall  indignant 
words  against  Pizarro,  his  young  admirer's  eye 
flashed  a  ready  sympathy  and  his  head  bowed  in 
hearty  approval. 

His  hero  was  without  question  more  honorable 
than  Pizarro,  more  wise  and  hearty  than  the  de 
Leon,  who  with  panting  steps  pursued  the  fountain 
of  youth  through  miry  dale  and  shaggy  forest.  He 
saw  in  de  Soto  no  enfeebled  warrior  with  whitened 
locks  and  withered  face.  It  was  the  picture  of  a 
man  but  recently  turned  forty,  a  gentleman  of  re 
spectable,  yet  undistinguished  parentage,  born  in 
the  province  of  Estremandura,  among  the  moun 
tains,  where  abounded  wild  passes  and  swift  rivers, 
where  the  men  who  there  first  saw  the  light  of  day 
were  persons  of  unusual  energy  and  boldness.  Juan 
had  heard  of  the  Estremandurans  and  knew  them 
as  a  "grave,  taciturn  people,  inoffensive  in  peace, 
but  indefatigable  in  war.  They  had  formed  the 
most  reliable  detachments  in  the  Spanish  army," 


"THE  MUSTER"  7 

and  were  deservedly  renowned  for  their  skillful 
horsemanship. 

But  whatever  the  dignity  of  de  Soto's  descent, 
he  began  his  career  as  a  mere  soldier  of  fortune. 
All  his  estate,  says  his  Portuguese  historian,  was 
but  "a  sword  and  buckler,"  yet  on  this  account  also 
he  was  all  the  more  a  hero  to  the  youthful  and  as 
piring  Juan.  Everybody  knew  how  Ayllon  had 
failed  in  Florida  and  never  returned  to  tell  the 
story  of  his  folly,  how  Narvaez  in  the  same  vain 
pursuit  left  his  body  in  an  unmarked  grave  at  sea; 
yet  thousands  were  ready  to  follow  de  Soto,  the 
new  leader.  Juan  de  Leon  shared  with  the  multi 
tude  this  unbridled  confidence,  and  pursued  the  trail 
for  fame  and  fortune. 

So,  with  the  mailed  knights,  Juan  de  Leon  took 
his  stand  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  at  San  Lucar.  He 
had  entered  the  little  village  of  the  sea  early  in  the 
day,  yet  not  too  early  to  avoid  the  multitude  which 
had  traversed  the  sandy  shores  and  undulating 
plains  extending  along  the  Guardalquivir  and  the 
sea. 

He  passed  round  the  Moorish  castle  which  lifts 
its  ancient  head  from  the  rising  hill  above  the  town, 
and  at  length  found  his  way  to  the  quarters  of  the 
cavaliers  of  Spain.  Among  them  he  was  thoroughly 
at  home.  Not  so  popular  as  Nuno  Tobar,  the  short 
termed  lieutenant-general  of  Cuba  and  Florida,  not 
so  highly  favored  as  Luis  de  Moscoso  de  Alvarado, 
the  camp-master  general — not  so  honored  with  a 
worthy  trust  as  Juan  de  Anasco,  the  royal  account 
ant  ;  yet  Juan  de  Leon  moved  in  his  element  among 
the  lances  of  that  goodly  host. 


8  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

Rodrique  Gomez  met  him  at  the  door  of  the  gen 
eral  rendezvous. 

"On  time  to-day,  de  Leon,"  said  Rodrique. 
"Promptness  is  well,  but  let's  hope  for  proper  dress 
and  armament  in  addition,  at  this  review.  Were 
you  among  the  ornamented  knights,  last  muster, 
when  so  many  of  our  countrymen  were  silk  attired, 
with  doublets  and  cassocks  pinked  and  embroidered, 
as  though  we  were  to  march  through  the  public 
square  eager  to  win  the  plaudits  of  the  women  and 
children  of  the  town?" 

"Nay,  Rodrique,  the  Adelantado  had  taught  me 
better  far  than  all  such  vanities.  You  must  remem 
ber  in  that  last  assembly  I  stood  proudly  with  the 
men  of  Portugal  and  with  chagrin  watched  my 
own  flesh  and  blood  depart  to  lay  aside  their  feath 
ery  uniforms  and  return  to-day  in  coats  of  mail. 
But  wasn't  the  Adelantado  sorely  vexed  at  the  un 
seasonable  ostentation  of  our  countrymen!  But 
here  he  comes  and,  behold,  the  concourse  of  glitter 
ing  knights  which  follow  him. 

"My  greetings  to  you,  Rodrique.  Tell  me,  have 
you  full  lists  of  the  men,  statements  of  pedigree  and 
the  number  of  parcels  which  they  wish  to  carry 
with  them  to  those  distant  shores?  Know  you  the 
number  of  wives  the  men  will  take  ?  I  mean,"  con 
ditioned  de  Soto,  as  Rodrique  smiled,  "I  mean  how 
many  of  our  wealthy  men  will  take  their  wives 
along  as  I  shall  Isabel,  my  queen.  I  trust  the  needs 
of  all  are  satisfied,  and  that  our  treasury  will  not 
be  bankrupt  before  we  sail.  So  many  knights,  I 
find,  are  brave,  but  poor;  adventurous,  but  not  as 
yet  successful  in  the  acquisition  of  that  which  means 


"THE  MUSTER"  9 

so  much  to  us,  the  treasured  gold.  And,  Rodrique, 
mark  this  well,  if  any  Spaniard  comes  in  holiday  at 
tire,  as  though  we  were  upon  a  summer  pic-nic, 
lead  him  down  to  the  sea  and  throw  him  headlong. 
Ah,  here  is  de  Leon,  with  polished  armor,  and  look 
about  now.  What  an  array  of  curiosities  and  an 
tiques  we  shall  display  this  day  when  the  warriors 
assemble  in  righting  uniforms !  Since  I  sent  those 
fellows  home,  I  should  judge,  they  have  raised  the 
dead  of  twenty  centuries,  and  robbed  them  of  their 
arms.  Glance  at  Cabeca,  yonder,  with  that  rusty 
coat  of  mail,  and  there  is  Dorantes  with  a  battered 
headpiece,  and  Castello  and  the  others  with  indif 
ferent  lances.  Yes,  it  will  be  a  remarkable  display ; 
but  yet  the  men  are  brave  and  true,  and  in  due  time, 
after  the  ocean  is  passed,  and  a  few  days'  journeys 
are  recorded,  when  a  show  of  arms  is  made  among 
the  natives  of  the  Eastern  wilds,  and  a  skirmish  or 
two  to  our  credit,  every  man  will  have  his  full  re 
ward,"  and  the  Adelantado  of  Florida  closed  his 
conversation  with  the  assurance  of  a  man  who  boast- 
ingly  takes  his  armor  off  victorious,  at  the  close  of 
battle. 

While  the  muster  was  in  progress,  and  the  visi 
tors  from  all  Spain  were  assembling  to  witness  the 
heralded  departure  and  speed  them  on  their  way, 
and,  while  Rodrique  Gomez  was  busy  at  his  tasks, 
and  Juan  de  Leon  was  soon  to  take  his  place  finally 
in  the  line  of  lances,  two  figures  passed  along  the 
street  where  stood  the  parish  church,  the  sacred 
shrine  of  San  Lucar  since  the  Fourteenth  Century. 
On  the  steps  of  the  old  church  they  paused,  rested 
awhile  and  talked.  They  were  from  the  suburbs, 


io  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

modest  men,  with  hardened  hands  of  toil,  true 
hearts,  and  minds  observant  of  passing  events. 

"Yes,  Garcia,"  began  the  elder  of  the  two,  "Grave 
doubts  disturb  my  mind.  Last  night  I  had  a  vision 
of  the  youths  of  Spain  wasting  their  manhood  on 
endless  barrens  and  terrible  swamps,  falling  by  the 
silent  windings  of  malarial  creeks.  Surely  have 
not  all  reports  from  this  land  of  Florida  been  over 
drawn  and  colored  to  becloud  the  eyes  of  the  strong, 
brave  and  adventurous  ?  The  real  picture  is  one  of 
tiring  hardships  without  one  redeeming  feature  to 
make  the  scene  a  bright  one.  I  tell  you,  Cabesa  de 
Vasa  will  not  return  to  such  tortures  which  he  has 
already  tasted  to  the  full.  He  may  take  a  title  or 
will  try  his  hand  at  public  office  in  the  Western 
world.  He  may  talk  about  the  riches  of  that  land, 
and  the  great  wealth  yet  to  be  brought  from  yonder 
shores  to  Spain;  but  will  he  go  himself  again?  I 
tell  you,  Garcia,  de  Vasa  will  not  go,  or  if  he  goes 
he  will  loiter  in  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  New 
World,  and  let  others  tread  the  unbeaten  roads, 
sink  in  the  sullen  swamps,  or  stop  the  poisoned  ar 
rows  of  those  hostile  tribes." 

"My  good  friend  Perez,"  said  the  other,  "I  think 
you  speak  more  truly  than  you  know.  This  vast 
unexplored  region,  called  by  Ponce  de  Leon  Flor 
ida,  will  simply  prove  a  graveyard  for  the  best  and 
bravest  of  our  men.  These  nine  hundred  knights 
or  more,  who  have  come  so  merrily  into  town  for 
get  that  de  Leon  and  Narvaez  found  no  gold ;  but 
simply  disaster  and  death.  But  methinks  as  surely 
as  my  name  is  de  Marchine,  that  some  in  San 
Lucar  and  Seville  have  strong  forbodings  of  ill. 


"THE  MUSTER"  n 

My  brother's  daughter,  the  beautiful  Leonora,  is 
somewhat  troubled  in  heart,  not  only  because  she 
dreads  to  lose  the  sweet  companionship  of  the  in 
trepid  Juan  de  Leon,  but  because  her  kinsfolk,  and 
I  too,  her  father's  brother,  have  expressed  our 
selves,  in  no  uncertain  words,  that  we  believe  some 
earnest  souls  will  not  find  the  gold  they  seek,  but 
melancholy  griefs  instead." 

From  the  church  steps  the  old  men  heard  the 
coming  of  the  band  of  priests,  which  was  to  sail 
with  the  adventurous  army.  The  conversation 
halted  while  the  company  filed  out,  and  as  they 
passed  discoursed  upon  the  mission  whither  they 
were  bent. 

"I  seek  not  wealth,"  professed  the  honest  Barbi- 
dilla.  "I  go  because  I  have  heard  the  call  of  new 
worlds  to  be  conquered  for  the  Church,  strange 
peoples,  who  have  never  heard  the  Saviour's  name, 
nor  even  seen  his  glorious  cross.  I  shall  raise  the 
crucifix  in  every  town,  and  as  it  rises,  give  the  call 
to  worship  and  bow  down." 

"Yes,  brother  Barbidilla,  ere  long  we  will  greet 
you  as  Bishop  of  Florida,  or  some  new  named  land 
of  savage  tribes ;  but  our  toil  will  be  well  rewarded 
in  offices  in  the  Church  which  correspond  to  our 
well-used  opportunities." 

The  speaker  was  a  man  of  twenty-eight,  distin 
guished  looking  in  his  priestly  garb,  with  face 
marked  in  lines  of  determination  and  eyes  which 
were  full  of  kindly  humor,  free  from  lust,  or  the 
pride  of  life. 

"We  shall  be  of  much  help  to  the  expedition. 
You  know,  Barbidilla,  when  men  are  away  from 


12  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

home  and  Church,  they  oftentimes  forget  what  they 
should  remember,  and  do  deeds  which  at  home  and 
in  Church  they  themselves  would  condemn.  The 
freedom  of  the  new  land,  may  lead  to  license,  and 
we  must  stay  the  tide  of  sin  which  may  arise,  bring 
pardon  to  the  sinner,  and  work  for  righteousness 
and  holy  joy." 

He  turned  as  he  finished,  and,  like  a  man  meet 
ing  an  old  friend,  saluted  Garcia  de  Marchine,  as 
in  a  moment's  pause  of  conversation  he  watched 
the  marching  ambassadors  of  the  Church. 

"All's  well,  de  Marchine,  I  trust.  Your  three 
score  years  and  ten  must  leave  their  mark.  You 
look  well.  You  rest,  I  fancy,  not  because  exhausted, 
but  because  to  hurry  is  not  your  habit.  I  know  you 
rest  to  pholisophize  and  go  profitably  on  your  way. 
I  hope  to  see  you  at  the  muster,  and  have  you  wave 
us  a  last  farewell,  and  God  bless  you.  One-half  hour 
is  the  full  length  of  time,  before  the  call  to  stand 
in  line,  be  counted,  and  led  upon  the  ships.  Fare 
well  till  then." 

The  two  patriarchs  were  left  alone  but  for  a 
moment.  Waiting  until  the  party  of  priests  had 
turned  the  corner,  they  themselves  arose  and  fol 
lowed  in  the  train  of  the  soldiers,  sight-seers,  strange 
faces  from  the  country,  mothers  seeking  a  last  look 
at  their  sons,  and  sweethearts  prolonging  their  good 
byes,  and  pledging  faith  and  loyalty.  In  the  dis 
tance  they  could  see  the  ribboned  spears  and,  at 
times,  above  the  crowd,  a  helmeted  head.  Sud 
denly  Garcia  moved  forward.  At  the  crossing  be 
fore  him  his  quick  eye  recognized  familiar  forms. 
Two  people  walked  side  by  side,  a  man  in  armor 


"THE  MUSTER"  13 

and  a  woman,  young  and  of  attractive  beauty.  They 
talked  as  they  walked,  the  man  with  divided  inter 
est,  in  contrast  with  the  seriousness  of  the  maid. 

"Juan,"  she  said,  "I  have  hoped  you  would  not 
go.  The  mere  quest  of  gold,  as  your  father  says, 
is  a  cause  unworthy  of  your  zeal.  To  war  against 
those  savage  tribes,  throw  them  into  confusion  with 
your  guns  so  strange  to  them,  devastate  their  towns 
and  then  perhaps  find  no  gold  for  all  the  trouble 
to  yourselves  and  wrong  to  them,  all  this  is  far 
from  knightly.  But,  Juan,  you  are  my  knight, 
remember,  in  whatever  land  you  bear  the  lance,  or 
in  whatever  cause  you  use  it." 

"Leonora,  let's  forget  the  expedition,  just  for 
thirty  minutes,  which  is  all  the  time  we  shall  have 
together.  One  of  these  minutes  has  already  passed 
since  you  have  talked  to  me  like  a  mother  telling 
her  boy  not  to  go  away  from  home.  Yes,  Leonora, 
I  must  go." 

Then  their  faces  met,  and  their  eyes — hers  and 
his — and,  as  Garcia  de  Marchine  and  his  friend 
following  on  behind  cast  their  wandering  glances  to 
ward  the  distant  couple,  they  thought  they  saw 
their  lips  meet  as  well  as  face  and  eyes.  Well,  yes, 
they  did.  Juan  couldn't  help  it,  and  Leonora  didn't 
try  to  stop  him.  Thus  they  sealed  their  love  and 
talked,  grew  serious  while  they  presumed  to  be  gay. 
Thus  Juan  de  Leon  took  his  stand  beneath  the 
shadow  of  coming  wealth  and  glory,  and  thus  he 
and  Leonora  glad  of  hearts  as  lovers  spent  the 
cherished  moments  of  their  parting. 


CHAPTER    II. 
'THE  DELAYED  SHIP." 

"The  ships  have  sailed,  dear  uncle." 
"Yes,  my  child;  I  also  watched  them  go." 
"I  didn't  see  you,  Uncle  Garcia,  nor  did  I  know 
you  had  come  to  town  to  help  us  send  our  heroes 
on  their  glorious  way." 

"No,  Leonora;  quite  true,  you  did  not  realize 
my  presence  hereabout.  You  were  too  busy  with 
your  kind  farewells,  and  one  in  particular,  I  might 
venture  to  affirm,  was  sweet  to  you.  The  birds  of 
San  Lucar  have  told  me  something.  Two  young 
people,  the  man  resembling  Juan,  the  woman,  bear 
ing  your  fair  looks — so  the  birds  say — spent  thirty 
minutes  saying  good-bye,  and  the  couple  said  it 
well,  with  suitable  acts  and  appropriate  accompani 
ments.  Yes,  I  too,  was  near  the  water's  edge  when 
you  waved  your  tired  hand  to  young  de  Leon  on 
the  San  Christoval.  Surely  he  is  highly  favored 
by  a  berth  upon  the  Adelantado's  own  ship,  the 
largest  of  the  fleet,  which  also  bears,  you  know, 
the  Governor's  wife,  the  gracious  Isabel,  with  all 
her  family  and  ambitious  retinue.  Too  bad  it  was, 
that  one  ship  was  delayed.  A  mistake,  I  fancy,  or 
perhaps  careless  preparation  delayed  them  so  they 
sail  not  until  to-morrow." 

"To-morrow,  to-morrow,  Uncle;  to-morrow?" 
"Yes,  to-morrow  the  boat  will  make  another  at 
tempt  to  brave  the  ocean  and  no  doubt  next  day  will 


"THE  DELAYED  SHIP"  15 

catch  the  waiting  ships.  At  any  rate  stopping  at 
the  Canaries,  they  will  tarry  for  her  coming,  and 
thence  make  their  way  together  westward." 

In  placid  meditation  Leonora  spoke,  half  to  her 
self  and  yet  ostensibly  to  Garcia  de  Marchine:  "I 
wonder,  I  wonder," 

"Why  wonder,  Leonora?" 

"Oh,  nothing,  uncle,  nothing.  I  simply  wondered 
whether  it  would  now  be  too  late  for  another  eager 
heart  to  go  by  this  belated  ship." 

"Your  heart,  Leonora?  I  supposed  that  was  al 
ready  on  its  way  upon  the  San  Christoval." 

"Yes,  it  is.  I  confess  it ;  but  yet  I  wonder  as  I 
said  before.  I  wonder  if  there  is  yet  room  for  a 
further  addition  to  the  party,"  and  that  night  the 
girl's  wonderment  assumed  the  aspect  of  determi 
nation.  She  thus  conspired  within  herself :  "Yes, 
I  will  board  the  ship.  I  will.  I  know  the  com 
mander.  Father's  friend,  Captain  Arias.  I  have 
some  gold,  a  dozen  ducats.  This  I  will  take,  set 
sail  to-morrow,  and  surprise  Juan  at  the  Canaries, 
or  in  the  new-found  countries." 

And  so,  without  floating  banners,  flashing  ar 
mor,  sounding  trumpets  or  discharging  ordnance, 
but  with  exuberant  spirit  and  a  soul  firmly  fixed 
upon  its  new  resolve,  the  lover  of  Juan  de  Leon 
planned  that  night  the  means  of  her  departure  with 
the  cavaliers  of  Spain,  taking  the  last,  the  tarrying 
caravel. 

Like  a  scholar  late  at  school  the  tenth  vessel  of 
the  fleet  hurried  forth  from  home.  Rising  and 
falling  upon  the  heaving  bosom  of  the  deep,  it 
spread  its  wings  upon  the  unbroken  stretch  of  blue. 


16  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

It  pointed  its  prow  toward  its  first  stopping  place, 
those  islands,  set  like  jewels  in  the  murmuring 
and  waiting  sea.  But  before  it  reached  that  island 
port  where  the  twice  five  boats  were  to  be  so  hon 
orably  received,  they  sighted  in  the  distance  the 
sails  of  the  San  Christoval  and  her  sister  ships. 
The  others  saw  her  too,  and  like  the  parent  birds, 
which  hover  protectingly  about  their  needy  young, 
reshaped  their  course  and  silently  drew  near.  The 
hearts  of  all  on  board  beat  with  the  rising  exhila 
ration  of  reunion.  The  lost  had  been  found,  and 
the  waves  lapping  and  folding  in  the  wake  of  the 
speeding  ship  were  symbolic  of  the  joyous  reas 
sembling  of  all  the  fleet.  Captain  Arias  at  his  post 
on  deck,  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  flag  ship.  He  fan 
cied  he  saw  the  heroic  form  and  face  of  his  in 
spiring  leader  Ferdinand,  and  seemed  to  hear  him 
say:  "Captain,  we  greet  you  once  more  to  our 
number.  Let's  hasten  on.  No  more  delays,  simply 
one  stop  to  make  our  supply  of  provisions  and  arms 
secure."  And  in  reply  to  this  imagined  greeting 
the  Captain's  face  brightened  with  joyous  hopes 
and  anticipated  triumphs.  Then  he  muttered  to 
himself:  "'Twill  be  an  hour  yet  before  we  come 
together,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  turned.  Someone 
had  come  to  his  side.  It  was  the  sailor  de  Balbour. 
"Captain,  you're  needed  below,"  he  said.  "We've 
one  more  passenger  than  we  supposed.  It's  a  wo 
man,  sir,  concealed  in  one  of  those  casks  we  brought 
aboard  on  leaving  port.  She's  a  fair  one,  and  well 
equipped  with  good  outfit,  and  almost  a  dozen  ducats 
to  pay  her  way.  Come  down  and  question  her. 
Her  name,  she  says,  is  Leonora  de  Marchine,  a 


I? 

daughter  of  a  friend  of  yours,  she  stoutly  affirms." 

"De  Marchine,  de  Marchine,"  the  captain  mur 
mured,  as  he  followed  the  sailor  to  the  row  of  casks 
below.  "De  Marchine,  I  know  him  well,  also  his 
daughter  Leonora.  We  must  at  once  enroll  her 
among  our  number.  She  need  not  have  come  this 
way,  but  might  have  sailed  in  yon  Christoval,  where 
reigns  her  mother's  school-friend,  Isabel,  wife  of 
the  trusted  Ferdinand.  So  soon  he  hears  of  our 
new-found  passenger  he  surely  will  claim  the  fair 
adventuress  as  belonging  to  his  own  chosen  party." 

The  great  cask  lay  sidewise  on  the  deck  with 
opened  top,  from  which  the  frightened  Leonora 
had  crawled.  About  her,  as  she  prepared  to  plead 
for  favor,  were  gathered  Spanish  knights,  priests 
of  the  Church,  sailors  of  the  caravel,  among  whom 
was  at  least  one  well-paid  accomplice. 

"Kind  captain,"  the  trembling  girl  cried,  "as  my 
father's  friend,  let  me  stay  and  sail  upon  your  ship." 

The  captain  smiled,  and  his  smile  seemed  reas 
suring  to  the  maiden. 

"But,"  again  he  smiled.  "But,"  he  repeated,  try 
ing  to  seem  severe,  "we  must  put  you  off  this  ship." 
And  Leonora,  uncertain  of  her  fate,  again  besought 
him,  scarcely  daring  to  take  the  officer's  words  in 
fun. 

"Please,  sir,  please  let  me  sail  with  you  to  those 
distant  lands.  I  shall  fully  pay  my  way,  and  father 
will  reward  you." 

The  captain  of  the  vessel  then  spoke  seriously: 
"Daughter,  you  should  not  have  thus  played  stow 
away.  I  am  full  willing  to  bear  you  on  the  way  to 
the  far  West ;  but  I  am  convinced  your  friends  upon 


i8  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  Christoval  will  want  you,  and  that  is  why  I 
say — of  course  in  fun — you  cannot  stay  upon  this 
ship.  There's  a  jolly  party  on  the  other  vessel. 
I'll  signal  the  Adelantado  as  his  boat  approaches." 

The  captain  then  left  her,  and  again  appeared  on 
deck  to  salute  the  Commander  of  the  fleet,  the  be 
loved  de  Soto. 

With  completed  number  the  boats  were  now  to 
gether.  The  accustomed  salutations  had  been  given, 
the  needed  questions  answered  and  the  fleet  was 
ready  for  its  coming  quota  of  storms  and  calms 
on  its  journey  to  the  Canary  Islands.  Leonora, 
finding  her  way  to  deck,  watched  the  little  boat  put 
off  from  the  San  Christoval,  and  draw  near  her 
ship.  Never  before  had  sunshine  and  fresh  air 
seemed  so  sweet  to  her.  She  breathed  deep  and 
long,  and  drank  eagerly  the  gentle  breeze,  like  a 
thirsty  man  the  cooling  spring;  then  looked  across 
the  waves  where  rocked  the  little  life  boat,  now 
rising  on  the  whitened  crest,  now  sinking  to  the 
watery  valley,  yet  ever  coming,  borne  by  the  push 
ing  flood  and  the  strong  strokes  of  the  rowers. 
She  saw  the  crew  and  two  distinguished  passengers 
gently  lifted  to  the  deck  on  which  she  stood.  It 
was  the  Adelantado  and  Rodrique  Gomez. 

"My  Leonora,"  began  de  Soto.  "I  have  heard 
of  your  remarkable  exploit,  how,  nestling  in  a  cask, 
you  came  aboard  the  boat  like  so  much  cargo. 
Daring  girl  you  are.  Surely  you  have  caught  the 
spirit  of  this  expedition  and  deserve  from  my  hands 
an  appointment  of  command  of  troops  on  special 
hazard.  I  have  brought  Rodrique  Gomez  along 
that  you  might  tell  him  what  we  may  do  for  you. 


"THE  DELAYED  SHIP"  19 

Dona  Isabel  and  myself  invite  you  to  join  our  party 
on  the  Christoval,  if  you  so  desire ;  or  you  may 
wait  till  we  stop  to-morrow,  or  next  day,  at  the 
Islands,  then  join  us  as  we  set  sail  again." 

Leonora  bowed  appreciation.  She  would  wait 
till  land  was  reached,  not  risk  a  dreaded  splashing 
by  returning  in  the  little  boat  that  day,  with  the 
Chief  and  his  men.  De  Soto  now  had  left  her  and 
she  stood  alone  with  Rodrique.  The  two  had  been 
friends  in  old  Seville  where,  as  companions  of  Juan, 
they  had  often  met.  In  fact,  were  playmates  there 
in  early  youth. 

"Well,  sister  what  may  be  your  pleasure?"  The 
courteous  Rodrique  spoke  with  intelligent  smile, 
which  seemed  to  say :  "I  know,  I  know" ;  and  he 
did.  He  knew  tlit  inspiration  of  her  daring  ven 
ture  at  sea. 

"Surely,  you  will  join  the  merry  crowd  on  the 
Christoval,  for  never  yet  has  such  a  brilliant  throng 
of  talent  and  good  looks  embarked  on  such  a  voy 
age.  Nuno  Tobar  is  there.  He  can  tell  you  won 
drous  tales  of  rich  Peru.  There  also  is  Luis  de 
Moscoso,  rich  cavalier,  with  sumptuous  equipment ; 
and  there  are  relatives  of  the  Governor,  captains 
of  the  infantry  and  standard  bearers  to  the  army. 
And  there  also  is  Juan  de  Leon,  and  you  know  I 
have  kept  the  best  name  till  the  last,"  said  Rodrique, 
again  smiling.  "Surely  now  you  will  come  back 
with  us  in  spite  of  a  generous  ducking  on  the  way." 

"You  certainly  must  have  a  jolly  time,"  the  girl 
remarked.  "But,  tell  me,  how  is  our  friend  Juan?" 

"Our  friend,  Leonora?  Ought  you  not  use  the 
singular  and  say  'my  friend  ?'  But  let  it  reman  'our 


20  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

friend/  for  de  Leon  is  a  good  fellow  and  friend. 
I  like  him  much,  nor  am  I  alone  in  my  liking  among 
those  who  sail.  In  fact,  your  friend  is  a  general 
favorite  on  our  boat.  We  couldn't  sail  so  happily 
without  our  Juan.  I  do  not  see  why  you  hesitate 
to  go  at  once.  Just  borrow  one  of  those  suits  of 
mail  to  keep  off  the  spray  and  a  helmet  to  keep  your 
hair  dry  and  come  along." 

"Now,  Rodrique,  you  are  no  longer  serious.  Let 
the  matter  of  my  coming  to  your  ship  rest  for  the 
time.  At  the  Canaries,  perhaps,  I  shall  leave  the 
protecting  care  of  Captain  Arias,  and  sail  upon  the 
Christoval ;  but  enough  of  that  for  the  present.  Tell 
me,  are  any  of  the  youths  of  Spain  homesick?" 

"Not  yet,  Leonora.  We  shall  have  too  much 
pleasure  till  we  reach  Florida  to  think  of  home, 
and  after  that,  perhaps,  we  shall  then  have  too  much 
fighting  and  labor  to  think  of  aught  else  except 
war  and  work." 

"I  have  heard  some  wise  men  in  Spain  voice  some 
such  sentiments,  just  before  your  sailing,  Rod 
rique,"  she  said,  and  turned  her  face  away;  but  as 
she  did  so  Rodrique  turned.  Both  looked  in  the 
same  direction,  toward  the  deck  of  de  Soto's  ship, 
where  stood  Juan.  He  waved  his  hand  in  saluta 
tion,  and  in  response  Leonora  sent  him  her  fondest 
greeting  across  the  sea. 

The  winds  seemed  to  whisper  a  sweet  love  song 
and  the  waves  of  the  old  ocean  echoed  the  refrain. 
Leonora's  heart  was  glad,  and  with  laughter  as 
light  as  that  of  a  child's  she  turned  once  more  to 
Rodrique,  resuming  their  interrupted  conversation. 
From  the  closed  palm  of  the  man's  left  hand  there 


"THE  DELAYED  SHIP"  21 

hung  a  section  of  a  string  of  pearls,  lustrous  and 
precious.  He  raised  the  hand.  They  flashed  into 
the  open.  The  girl's  eyes  saw  them  at  a  glance,  and 
wondered.  She  had  seen  them  before.  They  were 
the  little  trinkets  Juan  had  purchased  from  Este- 
vanico,  the  negro  who  sailed  to  Spain  with  Cabeca 
de  Vaca,  after  the  wretched  men  had  wandered 
from  tribe  to  tribe  in  the  Florida  wilds  for  six  long 
years.  At  Seville  with  Juan  she  had  wished  them 
hers,  and  supposed  some  day,  as  a  gift  from  her 
lover,  they  would  find  a  resting  place  upon  her  neck. 
She  fixed  her  eyes  for  a  closer  vision,  when  across 
the  deck  like  an  arrow  from  its  bow,  came  Ta- 
chuco,  the  only  Indian  on  the  fleet.  He  had  been 
captured  on  the  western  mainland,  carried  to  Cuba 
and  thence  unwillingly  to  Spain,  in  the  ship  which 
bore  Cabeca  and  his  men.  And  now  again  re 
turned  ostensibly  in  kindness  to  assuage  his  in 
jured  feelings  and  his  love  for  home ;  but  in  reality 
to  play  the  part  of  guide  and  pilot  of  the  troops  in 
their  quest  of  gold.  He  was  a  sort  of  favored  pas 
senger  on  the  ship,  wandered  about  the  boat  at  will, 
and  did  no  man's  bidding,  but  his  own.  Yet  as  an 
Indian,  he  never  forgot  that  first  sad  contact  with 
the  white  man,  when  coming  innocently  to  their 
camp,  admiring  their  clothing,  their  horses  and  their 
loud-sounding  guns,  he  found  himself  a  prisoner, 
ruthlessly  dragged  from  his  familiar  forests  and 
thence  swept  away  to  strange  and  startling  sights, 
to  scenes  which  stirred,  but  failed  to  satisfy  his 
untamed  soul. 

So  Tachuco's  eye  was  on  the  necklace.     Next 
second  his  hand  reached  out  and  grasped  it,  stealth- 


22  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

ily  yet  securely ;  and  with  vehement  acclaim,  speak 
ing  in  accentuation  rather  than  in  actual  words,  he 
said,  "White  man,  that's  mine.  For  seven  moons 
and  more  I  have  waited  and  watched  to  see  it  ap 
pear  among  the  stolen  treasures  of  the  knights  of 
Spain.  It  was  my  mother's,  a  token  of  love  from 
him  I  call  my  father.  I'll  have  it,  if  I  must  die 
for  it." 

And  as  he  spoke  he  held  upon  the  string  of  pearls 
like  a  drowning  man  the  rope  thrown  for  his  res 
cue.  Gomez  paused  a  moment,  looked  about  him, 
thought  of  law  and  order,  smarted  at  the  savage 
rush  of  the  mad  Indian  and  then  exclaimed:  "Ta- 
chuco,  give  it  back,  and  all  will  be  well." 

The  Indian,  as  with  frozen  features  and  eyes 
fixed  upon  the  white  man,  answered,  "  Tis  mine, 
and  'twill  be  mine,  or  none  shall  have  it.  I  will 
throw  it  in  the  sea,  and  feast  the  fish  with  a  costly 
meal,  before  these  pearls  shall  adorn  the  fairest 
form  of  the  white  man's  squaw." 

Noble  of  bearing,  stalwart  of  body,  he  stood,  an 
untainted  denizen  of  his  native  wilds,  as  firm,  he 
seemed,  as  the  undiscovered  Rockies,  he  would 
rather  die  than  yield.  He  had  said  his  say,  and 
would  withdraw  in  stately  parade,  across  the  deck; 
but  Gomez  stepped  athwart  his  path,  with  rising 
indignation  written  large  upon  his  face.  "Indian !" 
he  cried.  He  had  him  quickly  by  the  throat,  and 
just  as  quickly  lost  his  hold.  Leonora  screamed. 
Hurried  footsteps  marked  the  scurry  of  the  men 
as  though  responding  to  a  call  to  arms  for  some 
mysterious  fight.  Toward  the  water's  edge  the  men 
still  fought,  while  the  form  of  de  Soto  appeared, 


"THE  DELAYED  SHIP"  23 

but  twenty  feet  away.  He  would  stop  the  wrangle 
first,  then  seek  an  explanation  from  the  Indian  and 
the  white  man  as  well.  Nearer  the  gunwale  the 
fighting  men  drifted,  with  a  dozen  of  the  crew  in 
haste  to  check  them,  lest  they  plunge  into  the  waves 
below  and  both  be  lost.  With  desperate  grasping 
they  tugged  and  pulled,  with  furious  blows,  struck 
madly ;  they  swore,  the  one  in  Spanish  and  the  other 
in  the  Indian  tongue.  Next  moment  but  one  of  the 
two  antagonists  stood  upon  the  deck.  In  the  water 
below  struggled  the  Indian,  the  pearls  still  in  his 
hand ;  but  as  he  turned  his  face  upward  at  the  pass 
ing  caravel  and  the  oncoming  wave  he  cast  the 
pearls  into  the  sea,  and  grunted  to  himself:  "They 
are  gone  forever." 

The  lowered  boat  found  the  unhappy  man  half 
a  mile  to  the  eastward,  upon  the  vessel's  path,  and 
brought  him  back.  Meanwhile  the  recital  of  the 
fray  was  given  the  Adeltando,  and  the  captain  of 
the  ship,  while  an  explanation  of  the  pearls  was 
made  to  Leonora.  Rodrique  himself,  recovered 
from  his  Indian  encounter,  enlightened  the  maiden's 
troubled  mind. 

"Leonora,  let  me  now  make  my  presentation 
speech  without  the  pearls,"  he  began.  "The  neck 
lace  was  from  Juan.  He,  unable  to  come  himself, 
as  he  desired,  when  told  of  your  sudden  appearance 
on  our  fleet,  sent  me  as  custodian  of  his  gift.  I 
did  my  best  to  save  it  for  you.  Before  the  depart 
ure  from  San  Lucar,  it  was  his  purpose  to  give  you 
them  to  keep.  In  the  excitement  of  the  embark 
ation  he  had  taken  them  along.  There  he  stands 


24  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

on  yonder  deck  not  knowing  what  the  cursed  Indian 
has  done." 

And  so  the  sea  swallowed  up  another  treasure 
hidden  forever  from  the  eye  of  man. 


CHAPTER   III. 
"THE  FIRST  STOP/' 

The  dripping  Indian  reached  the  deck  like  a 
drowning  rat,  and  was  received  with  as  little  sym 
pathy  from  all  on  board.  He  had  been  worsted  in 
the  fight;  but  he  gloried  in  putting  the  pearls — he 
said — "where  no  white  man's  hand  could  reach 
them."  Through  wet  eyelids  he  eyed  the  man  with 
whom  he  Fought,  looked  him  full  in  the  face,  in 
proud  defiance  and  perfect  satisfaction. 

"White  friend,  we  will  fight  no  more  over  stolen 
property;  but  tell  me  this,  from  whom  did  you 
receive  it,  from  de  Leon,  friend  of  this  pale  face 
maiden?  No,  you  need  not  tell  me.  Whence  it 
came  to  your  hands  I  know.  I  traced  it  from  my 
homeland  to  the  land  of  Spain,  and  now  know  its 
resting  place  with  the  fishes  of  the  sea.  I  rejoice 
it  rested  last  in  my  right  hand,"  and  Tachuco  re 
treated  to  the  after  deck. 

As  he  went  he  muttered  to  himself  in  a  tongue 
strange  to  all  on  board,  save  the  negro,  Estevanico, 
who  had  shipped  among  the  crew  of  Captain  Arias' 
caravel.  Estevanico  heard  the  Indian  speak.  With 
frame  shaking  with  emotion,  wearied  with  his  fight 
ing,  and  exhausted  by  his  swim,  he  yet  spoke  dis 
tinctly  and  the  negro  with  his  six  years'  sojourn 
among  Tachuco's  kinsfolk  in  the  West,  knew  well 
the  meaning  of  his  words.  "The  white  man  takes 
me  home,  he  says,  to  let  me  once  more  rove  in  wild 


26  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

freedom,  the  wilderness,  and  waving  forest.  He 
tells  me  I  may  find  my  wigwam  once  more  and  have 
my  little  sister  weave  for  me  the  bead-covered  moc 
casins  ;  but  now,  I  know,  his  tongue  is  crooked.  He 
takes  me  with  him,  to  lead  the  way  and  make  his 
footsteps  safe  in  his  search  for  gold.  I  know,  I 
know,  and  not  many  moons  hence,  he'll  under 
stand  I  know.  The  pale  face  is  no  friend  of  mine, 
nor  of  my  people.  This  man  who  pushed  me  over 
board,  Juan  de  Leon,  on  whom  I  have  long  scented 
my  mother's  pearls,  the  great  de  Soto  in  his  mad 
ness,  and  this  whole  tribe  of  travelling  thieves,  I 
shall  not  serve,  but  shall  destroy,  with  my  people's 
help.  I'll  lead  them  far  away  from  the  beaten 
paths,  and  lose  them  in  the  desert  wilds,  and  for 
it  I  shall  have  my  glory  in  the  happy  hunting 
grounds." 

The  fleet  sped  on  its  way  with  no  mishap  to  boat 
or  man.  The  days  passed  merrily.  Music  and 
mirth,  the  songs  of  the  troubadours,  and  the  tales 
of  those  who  had  seen  the  Western  lands  varied 
the  monotony  of  the  twenty  days  or  more.  Across 
the  unfathomable  depths  they  sailed  with  their 
horses  for  the  land  of  conquest,  their  herds  of 
swine  to  provision  the  fighting  force,  and  a  pack  of 
bloodhounds,  the  Spaniard's  most  efficient  ally  in 
the  New  World.  Thus  equipped  the  armada  sailed 
on,  its  number  augmented  by  a  string  of  smaller 
craft  which  trailed  their  course  to  return  in  pride 
to  tell  their  townspeople  they  had  been  with  de 
Soto's  fleet.  Others  of  the  number,  booked  for 
Mexico,  escorted  them  on  their  way.  The  San 
Christoval  with  her  eight  hundred  tons,  took  the 


"THE  FIRST  STOP"  27 

lead  in  the  line  of  ships,  and  surpassed  the  others 
in  her  gay  array  of  gallant  cavaliers  and  charming 
women.  About  Dona  Isabel  and  de  Soto  there 
moved  as  gallant  and  brilliant  a  body  of  men  as 
ever  lifted  their  swords  for  conquest.  Scarcely  one 
among  them  had  gray  hairs.  They  were  young  and 
vigorous,  fitted  for  the  hardships  of  the  dangerous 
undertaking,  able  also  to  win  their  way  at  court, 
entertain  the  ladies  or  charm  the  company  with 
some  wondrous  tale. 

On  the  twenty-first  day  of  April,  the  ships 
reached  Gomera,  one  of  the  Canary  Islands,  and 
with  great  display  and  princely  courtesy  they  were 
received  by  the  Count,  the  Governor  of  that  place. 
Count  de  Gomera  who  thus  proudly  welcomed  them, 
was,  the  historian  tells  us,  a  "gay  and  luxurious 
cavalier."  Dressed  in  white  from  head  to  foot,  hat, 
cloak,  doublet,  breeches  and  shoes,  he  greeted  the 
fleet,  a  picture  of  some  white-clad  gypsy  captain, 
as  the  Portuguese  account  asserts.  Then  for  three 
long  festive  days  the  white-clad  ruler  entertained 
his  guests  in  jovial  style,  with  sumptuous  feastings 
and  prolonged  rejoicings.  Along  the  pebbly  shore 
of  the  "Fortunate  Islands,"  where,  the  historian 
also  tells  us,  the  ancient  Carthaginians  stopped 
awhile,  there  now  trod  the  knights  of  Spain  about 
to  sail  for  other  shores,  less  hospitable.  The  youth 
ful  cavaliers  quickly  responded  to  the  royal  salu 
tation,  like  boys  just  out  of  school ;  and  chief  among 
the  jolly  throng  was  Juan  de  Leon.  He  had 
watched  the  caravel  in  which  Leonora  sailed  as  it 
entered  port,  side  by  side  with  the  San  Christoval, 
and  soon  found  his  love  at  the  landing  place,  after 


28  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

receiving  orders  from  the  Adelantado  where  and 
when  to  report  for  duty.  So  the  men  and  maidens 
of  the  fleet  were  free  to  wander  at  will  about  the 
little  town.  A  headland  overlooking  the  far-reach 
ing  sea,  sheltered  Leonora  and  Juan  beneath  its 
arching  brow. 

"I  learned  the  fate  of  the  necklace,  Leonora, 
Tachuco  is  what  Estevanico  calls  a  bad  Indian. 
Little  did  I  know  he  would  lay  claim  to  that  string 
of  pearls,  for  had  I  such  suspicion  I  never  would 
have  sent  it  as  I  did;  but,  would  have  laid  it  by, 
until  that  time,  when,  from  the  toils  of  war  and 
exploration  I  had  returned  to  Spain  to  live  in  lux 
ury  with  my  Leonora ;  but  here  comes  Nuno  Tobar 
with  some  new-found  friends.  The  Adelantado 
also  comes  along,  with  Isabel,  and  in  the  rear  is 
Rodrique  Gomez.  It  would  appear  they  come  to 
find  us." 

"The  Count  Gomera  has  sent,  bidding  us  welcome 
to  his  home,  the  castle  on  yonder  hill,  where  he  will 
give  a  dinner  to  our  party  which  sailed  so  merrily 
on  the  Christoval.  We  also  want  Leonora  de  Mar- 
chine  to  come  along  as  of  our  number." 

Nuno  Tobar  was  the  speaker  and  apparently  the 
leader  of  the  band  bent  on  merriment.  Introduc 
tions  followed.  The  only  strange  faces  were  those 
who  had  not  sailed  upon  the  fleet,  the  Countess 
Gomera,  her  daughter  Leonora  de  Barbilla,  and  a 
troup  of  others,  young  men  and  maidens,  attended 
with  white-haired  matrons  and  nobles  of  the  town, 
with  menservants  and  maids  in  waiting  on  the  lords 
and  ladies,  a  courtly  train. 

"In  truth,  two  Leonoras,"  observed  the  gallant 


"THE  FIRST  STOP"  29 

de  Tobar.  "We  must  see  that  the  ladies  do  not 
fight  about  the  name,  but  each  share  it  equally  with 
the  other.  It's  bad  enough  to  fight  about  the  same 
man;  but  names  should  cause  no  discord.  Now 
tell  us  Leonora  de  Marchine,  and  for  purposes  of 
distinction  I  must  not  abbreviate,  tell  us,  Leonora, 
what  were  your  feelings  in  that  cask  as  the  sailors 
rolled  it  on  the  deck?  No  doubt  at  first  you  re 
gretted  your  choice  of  sojourn,  and  said  your  pray 
ers  more  often  than  at  other  times." 

The  maiden  promptly  answered,  "Yes ;  but  when 
once  embarked,  like  the  commander  who  burns  his 
ships  behind  him,  I  could  not  retreat.  I  dared  not 
scream,  although  I  felt  it  would  relieve  me  some 
what.  I  then  shut  my  eyes  and  tried  to  sleep  and 
forget  the  world  of  time  and  space,  however  small, 
and  simply  wait  until,  like  the  chick  in  the  egg,  it 
seemed  time  to  come  forth  to  do  and  to  conquer." 

"Well,  Leonora,  you  certainly  conquered  us,  that 
morning  on  our  ship/'  said  Captain  Arias.  "We 
felt  you  had  come  on  board  to  stay.  We  received 
you  like  the  infant  which  rules  the  household,  for 
we  were  constrained  by  your  entreaties  and  gov 
erned  by  your  tears."  "And  by  your  fair  looks 
as  well,"  added  the  smiling  de  Soto.  "Now,  let 
me  speak  for  Isabel  who  would  like  to  greet  you 
once  more.  She  knew  your  mother  well,  and 
wishes,  as  she  did  when  first  she  learned  of  your 
coming  to  the  fleet,  that  she  might  have  you  in  her 
household  on  the  San  Chnstoval." 

That  night  the  lights  from  the  old  castle  shown 
brightly  on  the  bay,  and  were  reflected  on  the  rest 
less  waves  across  the  entrance  of  the  harbor.  The 


30  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

music  of  the  band,  the  tuneful  step  of  the  dancers, 
the  laughter  of  youth  and  maiden  with  the  sweet 
perfume  of  flowers  were  wafted  forth  upon  the  mid 
night  air.  Through  the  halls  the  young  people 
danced,  then  along  the  great  veranda  of  the 
sumptuous  home.  The  spacious  porch  served  as 
a  retiring  place  for  animated  small  talk,  and  some 
times  conversation  of  serious  import.  The  rustle 
of  a  dress  and  the  more  heavy  tread  of  the  accom 
panying  cavalier  told  of  two  who  made  their  way 
to  a  cosy  couch  in  the  far  corner.  The  murmur  of 
the  waves  upon  the  pebbly  beach  did  not  disturb 
their  intercourse.  It  seemed  to  urge  them  on  and 
covered  words  they  wished  none  but  themselves  to 
hear. 

"Leonora,  you  understand  me,"  said  the  man  in 
impatient  voice. 

"Pardon,  Juan,  I  do  not.  I  saw  you  take  the 
flower  from  the  other  Leonora,  and  heard  your 
words  of  adoration,  as  you  say,  innocent  flattery." 

"Yes,  that  was  all  it  was.  The  daughter  of  the 
Count  meant  nothing.  Certainly  I  did  not ;  but  here 
they  come." 

At  their  approach  the  couple  suppressed  their 
petty  quarrel.  The  proud  Nuno  Tobar  drew  near, 
leading  the  fair  daughter  of  Gomera,  the  "woman 
in  the  case."  She  first  broke  the  silence  of  the  in 
terrupted  seance  by  launching  forth  in  bold  ques 
tionings. 

"O,  my  namesake,  Leonora,"  she  said,  "tell  me 
something  more  of  what  Nuno  Tobar  has  already 
informed  me,  of  your  coming  on  the  ship  in  that 
unusual  way.  How  did  you  dare  do  it?  Could  you 


"THE  FIRST  STOP"  31 

breathe?  Didn't  you  become  hungry,  and  thirsty; 
and  didn't  you  want  to  turn  around  and  stretch  a 
little  ?  You  surely  mussed  your  hair,  and  soiled  your 
skirts?  But  when  I  understand  why  you  suffered, 
that  is,  for  whom  you  did  all  this,  why  then  pain 
to  you  was  pleasure.  He  couldn't  get  away  from 
you,  could  he?" 

The  words  stung  the  proud  daughter  of  de  Mar- 
chine.  She  hadn't  seen  herself  in  that  light  before, 
pursuing  a  man ;  and  from  that  very  moment  her 
mind  took  a  different  trend.  She  would  no  longer 
seem  to  follow  Juan.  She  would  not  even  sail  in 
the  San  Christoval  as  she  had  purposed,  after  the 
kind  and  urgent  solicitation  of  the  Adelantado  and 
his  wife. 

Again  the  couple  were  left  alone,  for  the  young 
lady  of  the  household  with  her  new  admirer,  the 
dashing  Nuno,  fluttered  along  the  piazza,  into  the 
ballroom  again,  chatting  and  smiling,  enjoying  the 
flying  hours,  and  extracting  their  sweetness  like  the 
bee  the  treasured  honey  from  flower  to  flower.  De 
Soto,  then,  appeared  seeking  the  coolness  of  the 
porch  with  Isabel,  the  Count  and  Countess  de  Go- 
mera. 

"We  trust  to  you  our  daughter  Leonora  de  Bo- 
badilla.  To  your  protection  and  care  we  confident 
ly  commit  her.  She's  young,  just  seventeen,  has 
many  lessons  to  learn.  You  and  your  youthful 
cavaliers  will  guard  her  well,  I  know." 

"Count  Gomera,  believe  me,  I  shall  protect  the 
beautiful  Leonora,  cherish  her  as  my  own  daugh 
ter,  and  if  cupid  should  so  dispose,  hers  shall  be 
an  advantageous  match  among  my  noble  cavaliers. 


32  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

I'll  advance  her  to  rank  and  fortune  in  the  country 
we  shall  conquer." 

This  conversation,  the  daughter  of  de  Marchine 
overheard  with  unfeigned  interest.  She  turned  to 
Juan  and  thought  she  read  his  heart.  It  pleased 
him,  she  thought,  that  this  coming  Countess  should 
sail  upon  his  ship,  this  girl  who  had  sneeringly 
charged  her  with  pursuing  the  admired  Juan.  Thir 
ty  seconds  of  silence  passed.  The  Count  and  Count 
ess,  with  de  Soto  and  his  devoted  wife  were  now  at 
the  entrance  of  the  music  hall  beyond.  In  serious, 
yet  persuasive  speech,  Juan  fixed  his  eyes  on  Leo 
nora  of  Seville,  but  his  first  word  halted  on  his 
lips.  Through  the  railing  of  the  porch  behind  him 
a  long  and  sharp-nailed  hand  was  reached.  It 
tugged  fiercely  at  his  silken  doublet,  and  jerked 
him  backward  violently  against  the  wooden  lattice. 
The  startled  Leonora,  unable  to  understand  her 
lover's  movements,  thought  him  seized  with  sudden 
sickness  or  unexplainable  malady,  and  turned  with 
willing  arms  to  steady  him.  Then  her  quick  eye 
saw  the  hand  that  held  him,  a  copper-colored  hand. 
She  spied  the  face  that  owned  the  hand,  peering 
vindictively  through  the  open  woodwork  of  the 
porch.  She  shrieked  with  trembling  voice:  "Ta- 
chuco,  I  know  you.  Away,  what  want  you  here?" 
With  desperate  grip  the  redskin  grasped  the  silken 
garment,  tore  it  in  shreds,  and  letting  go  his  hold 
upon  the  white  man,  he  breathed  forth  hatred  and 
whispered  in  murderous  voice:  "De  Leon,  I  am 
your  enemy  for  life,  and  the  evil  genius  of  your 
gold-searching  party.  You  take  me  to  my  home 
again.  Thanks  for  your  trouble.  I  will  never  guide 


"THE  FIRST  STOP"  33 

you  as  you  think.    You'll  hear  from  me  later.  Fare 
well.     Follow  me,  if  you  will." 


CHAPTER   IV. 
CUBAN  HOSPITALITY. 

The  music  stopped ;  the  dancing  ceased ;  the  fra 
grant  flowers  fell  upon  the  floor  to  be  crushed  be 
neath  the  feet  of  the  hurrying  men,  or  swept  along 
by  the  rustling  skirts  of  the  trailing  women.  The 
Count  was  greatly  stirred,  and  the  ready  de  Soto 
indignant.  His  own  ears  had  heard  the  woman's 
cry,  as  she  addressed  the  Indian.  He  had  barely 
crossed  the  entrance  to  the  ballroom.  Turning 
quicker  than  his  prancing  steed  could  move,  around 
and  backward,  he  wheeled,  and  found  himself  at 
the  spot  where  Juan  and  Leonora  had  rested. 

"Yonder  he  goes,  sir,"  in  intensity  of  voice,  the 
girl  gasped. 

"Who  goes,  my  child?"  the  Governor  asked. 
"Who  it  it,  that  has  caused  this  uproar?  Speak 
quickly,  girl." 

"The  Indian,  the  Indian  Tachuco,  sir.  I  saw  his 
face  and  know  him  well." 

Juan  was  now  standing,  facing  the  darkness, 
whither  the  retreating  figure  of  his  enemy  moved. 
Rodrique  Gomez  hastening  behind  his  master,  no 
ticed  the  torn  doublet  of  his  friend  Juan. 

"Are  you  injured,  Juan?"  he  quickly  asked 
"Your  doublet  is  torn.  No  more  gay  promenade 
for  you  this  night.  'Twas  the  Indian,  Leonora 
tells  us.  Yes,  our  Indian  battles  have  begun  this 
side  the  great  Atlantic ;  but  I  wish  I  had  that  In- 


"CUBAN  HOSPITALITY"  35 

dian  again.  I  thrashed  him  once,  and  would  crave 
another  try." 

"Leave  him  to  me,  Rodrique.  He's  made  himself 
my  sworn  enemy ;  but  up  and  out ;  let's  get  him." 

"Stay!"  counselled  the  commander  of  the  cava 
liers.  "It  will  be  two  days  before  we  sail.  We 
shall  secure  the  man  and  put  him  in  irons  for  the 
rest  of  the  trip.  Then  properly  subdued  we  will  re 
lease  him  to  do  our  bidding  on  the  other  side, 
where  we  need  his  skill  and  knowledge  among 
strange  peoples." 

Thus  de  Soto  brought  quiet  and  the  festivities 
went  on  once  more.  That  night  the  constable  of 
Gomera  and  his  men  were  summoned  to  the  castle. 
The  Count  informed  them  of  the  prowler  about  his 
house,  told  them  who  he  was  and  gave  instruc 
tions  to  seize  him  at  all  hazards,  and  send  him  in 
chains  to  the  ship.  There  the  officers  of  the  fleet 
would  take  care  of  him.  At  daybreak  the  man  was 
found,  securely  handcuffed,  and  placed  upon  the 
caravel  of  Captain  Arias,  as  a  prisoner  of  war, 
bound  hand  and  foot  and  left  in  charge  of  the  negro 
Estivanico  much  against  the  negro's  will,  and  in 
defiance  of  the  Indian's  request.  Thus  the  incident 
of  the  ball  at  the  Governor's  house  was  closed; 
so  also  was  the  festivity  itself,  for  soon  after  mid 
night  the  knights  and  ladies  went  their  way  home 
ward,  or  to  the  ship,  to  sleep  late  and  begin  another 
day  of  merriment. 

Thus  they  feasted  and  danced  during  three  days' 
stop  at  Gomera.  The  fourth  day  again  they  set  out 
for  the  New  World,  taking  one  new  member  of 
their  party,  Leonora,  the  daughter  of  the  Count, 


36  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

sailing  on  the  San  Christoval,  under  the  guardian 
ship  of  de  Soto  and  his  hospitable  wife.  Leonora 
de  Marchine,  friend  of  Juan,  however,  sailed  upon 
the  other  ship,  the  caravel  of  Captain  Arias,  in 
which  she  at  first  embarked.  The  last  day  at  the 
Canaries  she  voiced  her  determination,  not  to  seem 
to  pursue  her  lover  over  much. 

"I  will  not  be  reproached  again  by  that  foolish 
Countess,"  she  said.  "The  San  Christoval  is  not 
large  enough  for  her  and  me.  So  I  shall  continue 
as  I  began.  We  shall  meet  again  at  Cuba,  I  hope." 

In  vain  was  Juan's  persuasion.  In  vain  also  were 
the  entreaties  of  de  Soto  and  the  expostulations  of 
his  wife.  Leonora  would  not  appear  again  to  fol 
low  Juan.  None  should  make  that  charge  again. 
The  days  passed  and  the  weeks.  Across  the  wav 
ing  ocean  they  sailed,  as  lighthearted  as  children  off 
for  a  holiday,  and  confident  of  gold  as  if  it  were 
in  sight.  The  end  of  May  found  them  at  the  harbor 
of  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Their  coming  brought  great  joy  throughout  the 
whole  of  Cuba.  Santiago  welcomed  them  with 
open  arms.  A  beautiful  horse,  richly  caparisoned, 
awaited  de  Soto ;  a  costly  mule,  emblem  of  loyalty, 
was  furnished  his  graceful  Dona  Isabel.  Thus 
mounted  they  were  escorted  to  their  lodgings  by 
the  burghers  of  the  town  on  prancing  steeds.  Their 
men  were  also  entertained  with  similar  hospitality, 
some  quartered  in  the  town,  others  kindly  cared  for 
in  the  country  houses  of  the  wealthy  Cubans.  For 
several  days  the  city  witnessed  one  continuous  fes 
tival.  The  daughter  of  Cou.nt  Gomera  enjoyed  her 
new  experiences  with  unbridled  pleasure.  Nuno 


"CUBAN  HOSPITALITY"  37 

Tobar,  the  dashing  lieutenant-general,  led  the  wild 
scenes  of  revel  and  festivity.  Juan  and  "his  Leo 
nora,"  as  Gomera's  daughter  called  her,  Rodrique 
Gomez  and  a  score  of  others  who  had  come  from 
Spain,  wearied  themselves  with  balls  and  masque 
rades  at  night,  and  by  day  indulged  in  tilting  match 
es,  witnessed  bull  fights,  contests  of  skill  in  horse 
manship,  running  at  the  ring,  and  other  amuse 
ments  of  a  chivalrous  nature. 

But  Juan's  enjoyment  of  the  games  was  short. 
With  Rodrique  Gomez  he  was  dispatched  on  many 
errands,  and  had  placed  upon  him  manifold  respon 
sibilities  for  the  expedition  soon  to  set  out  for 
Florida.  Leonora  of  Seville  saw  very  little  of  her 
lover.  The  days  passed  drearily.  Often  during 
these  hours  of  waiting  she  regretted  her  refusal  to 
join  the  party  on  the  San  Christoval  in  their  sail 
from  the  Canaries ;  but  regrets  would  not  bring 
back  good  times  which  had  been  thrown  away.  She 
seemed  to  note  a  certain  coldness  in  the  busy  Juan, 
and  saw  him  less  and  less.  Did  he  stay  away  to 
avoid  her,  or  was  he  thus  tight-bound  to  many  du 
ties?  She  did  not  know.  Thus  the  weeks  sped  on 
and  the  girl  who  had  braved  so  much  was  left 
alone,  while  the  man  who  had  loved  her  spent  his 
time  in  work.  Had  he  forgotten  her?  Did  he 
cease  to  love  her?  Was  he  playing  a  game  to  test 
her  loyalty?  True  Pedro  Porcello  had  thrice 
sought  her  company  and  was  with  her  in  public, 
forcing  himself  upon  her  on  festal  occasions  and 
at  social  functions.  His  tongue  had  been  busy,  and 
his  boasts  went  rampant  through  the  ranks  of  Juan's 
friends  that  "de  Leon  had  been  outwitted  in  his  love 


38  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

affair,  that  Leonora  had  jilted  Juan,  in  the  interest 
of  another.  It  was  even  reported  that  Pedro  had 
said  "I  am  the  new  favorite  of  the  maid  from  Se 
ville,"  and  the  words  like  poisoned  arrows  had 
reached  the  ears  of  Juan. 

Pedro  Porcella  was  his  father's  son,  and  had 
joined  the  company  of  the  famed  de  Soto,  when 
Porcella,  Senior,  united  his  forces  with  the  new 
Adelantado.  Juan  had  met  him  once.  It  was  at  the 
masquerade,  when  first  the  dashing  cavaliers  had 
touched  the  soil  of  Santiago.  It  was  late  when  de 
Leon  reached  the  jolly  masquerade,  too  late  to  en 
joy  the  frolic  of  the  hour.  Then  had  Porcella  net 
tled  him,  half  in  jest  and  half  in  earnest,  telling 
him  he  might  just  as  well  go  home  again,  for  Leo 
nora  had  danced  with  him  before  her  lover  came 
upon  the  scene.  The  vexing  Juan  did  not  seem  to 
mind  and  the  evening  passed  with  pleasant  incidents 
unmarred  by  the  bitter  sally  of  the  Cuban.  The 
merry-makers  had  gone  to  rest  to  sleep  away  the 
memories  of  their  jolly  times  and  refresh  them 
selves  for  new  ones  on  the  morrow.  The  morrow 
came,  and  with  it  an  afternoon  of  exceptional 
beauty. 

A  bull  fight  was  the  order  of  the  hour.  Pedro 
Porcella  was  among  the  company  that  cheered  the 
victor  as  he  felled  the  enraged  beast  and  slew  him 
where  he  lay.  The  man  had  caught  the  spirit  of  the 
scene  and  as  though  unsatisfied  with  such  heart 
less  pleasure,  vented  his  feelings  on  a  helpless  slave 
whose  only  offense  was  to  move  too  slowly  from 
Porcella's  pathway,  as  he  came  along.  In  a  mo 
ment  Juan  was  by  his  side. 


"CUBAN  HOSPITALITY"  39 

"Coward,"  he  cried.  "In  Spain  we  thrash  such 
curs  as  you." 

A  dozen  hads  were  raised  to  wave  him  back. 
Nuno  Tobar  among  his  friends  sought  to  bear  him 
away  arm  in  arm,  telling  of  the  Cuban's  prowess 
as  a  duelist. 

"Three  have  fallen  by  his  sword,  and  a  fourth 
has  wet  the  soil  of  Cuba  with  his  blood,  while  Por- 
cella  was  but  slightly  harmed,"  they  said. 

But  Juan  seemed  not  to  hear  the  words,  and  Por- 
cella,  furious  at  the  words  of  contumely,  approached 
and  flung  a  challenge  in  the  face  of  the  youth  of 
Seville.  At  once  it  was  accepted.  The  seconds 
were  chosen,  the  place  selected,  and  the  day  ap 
pointed.  Both  were  in  their  places,  and  the  game 
of  life  and  death  was  on.  Porcella  showed  his 
skill,  the  ability  of  experience.  De  Leon  gave  at 
first  an  exhibition  of  cautiousness.  He  parried, 
withdrew,  and  for  fifteen  minutes  simply  used  de 
fensive  tactics.  Then  a  quickly  directed  blow  from 
the  Cuban's  sword  just  grazed  his  neck.  A  cry 
half  started  from  the  lips  of  de  Leon's  friends;  but 
suddenly  the  tide  of  battle  changed.  Caution  was 
replaced  by  increasing  boldness,  until  the  sword  of 
de  Leon  beat  fast  upon  his  opponent's  steel,  and 
quick  as  a  flash  of  light,  the  blade  fell  upon  Por- 
cella's  wrist,  dashed  his  sword  from  his  hand,  and 
brought  him  to  the  position  of  the  vanquished.  As 
he  fell  de  Leon  placed  his  foot  upon  his  neck,  and 
raised  his  sword  as  if  to  strike  him  to  his  death, 
then  paused,  and  said:  "No,  I  will  not  kill  you. 
Go,  and  practice  mercy,  as  mercy  has  been  granted 


40  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

you.  Succor  the  weak.  Don't  beat  them,  and" — he 
added — "let  your  tongue  say  only  what  is  true." 

From  that  fateful  afternoon  Pedro  Porcella  was 
little  seen  in  the  company  of  those  who  sailed  in 
the  fleet  of  de  Soto  from  Spain.  He  failed  to  ap 
pear  in  the  ranks  of  the  new  world  conquerors, 
when  the  cavaliers  set  sail  for  their  inland  march. 
This  exciting  incident  varied  the  monotony  of 
gaiety  among  the  soldiers  of  fortune,  and  the  days 
of  preparation  were  just  sufficient  in  number  to 
make  the  time  pass  merrily  along.  Some  of  the 
company  were  more  busy  than  the  rest.  Those 
who  waited  on  the  Adelantado  in  the  work  of  the 
equipment  of  the  expedition  were  hard  worked  men, 
and  among  such  toilers  was  Juan  de  Leon.  So  Le 
onora  saw  her  knight  but  little.  He  came  and  he 
went.  His  words  to  her  seemed  few.  His  stay 
with  her  was  shorter  and  shorter  each  time  he  re 
turned  from  some  imposed  task  of  his  chief.  Again 
she  wondered  and  said  in  her  heart,  soliloquising, 
"Has  Juan  forgotten  his  love?  Is  he  not  greatly 
changed?  Better  for  me  had  I  remained  at  home 
with  my  people  in  the  far  off  land." 

But  her  musings  did  not  relieve  her  moments  of 
darkness.  Like  a  light  shining  along  the  pathway 
of  night  was  Juan's  return,  from  time  to  time ;  but 
there  seemed  to  rest  upon  her  the  horror  of  a  great 
darkness,  and  so  the  days  dragged  on.  Nuno  Tobar, 
among  the  young  men  of  the  army,  seemed  most 
gay.  Evidently  he  had  come  to  seek  pleasure  rath 
er  than  gold.  The  daughter  of  the  Count  of  Go- 
mera  was  his  constant  companion,  and  ardent  ad 
mirer,  as  he  besported  himself,  made  merry  and 


"CUBAN  HOSPITALITY"  41 

led  in  deeds  of  mimic  heroism;  and  it  was  not  until 
his  degradation  in  the  sight  of  the  honorable  de 
Soto,  that  he  saw  before  him  the  serious  side  of 
the  great  undertaking.  Rodrique  Gomez  also  played 
rather  than  worked.  He  was  to  be  found  at  some 
game  of  chance  and,  so  it  was  whispered  among  the 
men,  he  would  before  long  gamble  away  his  life,  or 
the  sight  of  his  eyes.  Juan  de  Anasco  was  a  most 
busy  man.  Twice  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  coast  the  Flor 
ida  shores,  with  a  picked  crew,  in  quest  of  some 
commodious  harbor  to  which  the  expedition  might 
sail  direct,  find  secure  anchorage,  and  a  safe  place 
of  landing  for  the  troops. 

Three  months  elapsed  after  his  departure  on  his 
second  voyage,  and  no  tidings  of  him  had  been  re 
ceived.  Then  when  great  fears  were  entertained  for 
his  safety,  suddenly  his  tempest-tossed  bark  reached 
Havana.  No  sooner  did  Anasco  and  his  crew  set 
foot  on  land,  than  they  threw  themselves  on  their 
knees,  and  thus  prostrate  they  crawled  to  church  to 
worship,  in  fulfillment  of  a  vow  made  in  an  hour 
of  great  peril.  This  done,  they  related  all  the  dan 
gers  through  which  they  passed  on  sea  and  land. 
Once  in  midocean  they  gave  themselves  up  for  lost. 
Again,  they  were  driven  on  an  uninhabited  island 
where  for  two  months  they  subsisted  on  shell-fish 
gathered  along  the  beach,  and  wild  fowl  which  they 
felled  with  clubs.  However,  the  great  object  of  the 
cruise  had  been  fulfilled.  A  secure  harbor  on  the 
coast  of  Florida  was  found,  and  on  his  return  Anas 
co  brought  with  him  four  of  the  captured  natives, 
to  serve  as  interpreters  and  guides. 


42  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

It  was  on  this  second  tour  of  inspection,  the  In 
dian  Tachuco  was  reported  missing.  Since  his 
outbreak  at  the  Canaries  he  had  been  under  super 
vision  of  the  Negro,  Estivanico.  At  first  he  had 
been  placed  in  chains.  Then  apparently  becoming 
more  tractable,  he  was  given  greater  liberty ;  but  as 
events  showed,  he  was  still  untamed  and  just  as 
subtle.  At  length  he  was  granted  full  liberty  within 
certain  confines  of  the  camp,  and  Estivanico  was  ex 
pected  to  play  the  part  of  watchdog,  report  any 
signs  of  treachery,  and,  above  all  else,  to  see  that 
the  prisoner  did  not  escape.  All  went  well  with 
Estivanico  and  his  ward  until  the  last  day  of  their 
brief  sojourn  on  the  mainland;  where  they  tarried 
but  three  short  hours.  Those  hours  were  fatal  to 
the  faithful  negro.  They  found  him  stabbed  to  the 
heart,  lying  where  the  Indian  had  left  him  and  taken 
to  the  woods.  They  buried  him  where  he  fell,  the 
expedition's  first  victim  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
new  land.  That  night  as  the  little  brigantine  passed 
out  through  the  waves  to  return  to  her  port  in  Cuba, 
Anasco  and  his  men  seemed  to  hear  the  shrill  voice 
of  the  wily  Tachuco,  and  as  it  died  away  in  the  dis 
tance  these  words  were  borne  to  their  ears  on  the 
evening  breeze :  "You  men  of  Spain  will  hear  from 
me  later.  Farewell,  all  of  you,  till  then!" 


CHAPTER  V. 

"INTO  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN." 

It  was  the  month  of  May,  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
fifteen  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  the  twelfth  day, 
some  say ;  others  tell  us  it  was  the  eighteenth.  The 
Havana  harbor  witnessed  scenes  such  as  it  had  nev 
er  known  before.  From  its  sunny  shores  there  had 
gone  other  companies  of  men,  but  none  so  great  and 
gay  as  these.  Across  its  smiling  harbor  other  fare 
wells  had  been  said,  but  none  so  full  of  hope.  Man 
kind  must  move,  as  by  some  lurking  impulse  of 
restless  life;  and  farewells  must  be  said,  and  so 
there  travelled  seaward  from  the  coast  of  Cuba's 
foremost  port  many  fond  and  tender  greetings  of 
God-speed. 

That  May  day  was  not  all  smiles.  The  winds 
upon  the  face  of  the  deep  were  of  a  contrary  tem 
perament  ;  yet  fear  was  not  in  any  heart,  but  happi 
ness  and  hope  abounded.  Still  on  the  well  trodden 
quay,  there  waved  a  single  hand  after  all  had  gone. 
It  was  pathetic,  one  might  truly  say,  like  the  gentle 
swaying  of  the  tarrying  rose  of  summer.  It  was 
a  woman's  hand,  and,  waved  with  tired  yet  unremit 
ting  steadiness  as  though  fanning  the  ships  with  a 
favoring  breeze.  The  woman  spoke.  "Gone,  gone! 
My  knightly  love  seeks  wealth  and  honor.  But 
wealth  and  honor  are  already  his.  Why  crave  them 
further. 


44  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"Would  sweet  content  had  been  part  of  Fernando's 
character.  Brave  and  good  he  is,  but  he  lacks  the 
accompanying  contentment,  which  is  great  gain.  But 
I  must  not  complain.  He  will  return,  he  will,  and 
then,  then  never  again  shall  we  be  separated." 

The  words  were  not  spoken  in  soliloquy.  By  the 
matron's  side,  another  hand  was  swaying  in  the 
Cuban  freshness.  It  was  also  the  hand  of  a  woman, 
a  young  and  dainty  maid,  the  courageous  girl  of 
Seville,  clad  in  crimson,  Leonora,  who  had  strangely 
forced  herself  upon  the  sailing  fleet,  and  had  found 
thereon  a  gladsome  welcome.  She  now  rested  in 
the  heart  and  home  of  Dona  Isabel,  wife  of  the 
great  Fernando.  The  two  women,  who  thus  stood 
side  by  side  and  waved  across  the  sea,  were  the 
wife  of  the  dashing  Adelantado  and  this  daughter  of 
de  Marchine,  fond  lover  of  Juan  de  Leon. 

Juan  had  parted  from  the  proud  yet  faithful  soul 
with  expressions  of  affection ;  yet  try  as  she  would, 
the  asseverations  were,  she  thought,  cold  and  for 
mal.  But  still  she  waved  her  love  across  the  incom 
ing  waves,  to  the  outgoing  ship  on  which  her  lover 
sailed.  He,  too,  waved  from  time  to  time  a  clear 
response  to  the  girl  in  red,  which  Leonora  took  to 
herself  and  treasured  in  her  heart.  The  "other 
Leonora",  she  of  the  Canary  Islands,  had  fallen  in 
favor  with  the  ruling  lady.  In  fact,  some  weeks  be 
fore  she  had  left  the  company  of  the  knights  and 
ladies,  and  was  preparing  soon  to  return  to  her 
distant  home,  if  Nuno  Tobar,  who  now  was  hers, 
should  delay  his  coming  overmuch.  Thus  Isabel, 
and  the  Spanish  Leonora,  stood  with  faces  seaward, 


"INTO  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN"        45 

outstretched  hands,  and  now  and  then  a  quiet  tear 
drop  stealing  down  their  cheeks,  as  away,  away  went 
the  boats,  away  at  last  to  their  "El  Dorado,  away 
to  the  land  of  cedar  and  wine,  the  land  that  is 
abloom  with  perpetual  spring,  the  land  of  gold,  an 
other  Mexico,  another  Peru.  Joy  broke  forth  into 
songs  and  expressions  of  delight."  The  brilliant 
army  now  upon  the  sea  drew  near  to  this  land  of 
their  glorious  expectation.  They  "filled  high  the 
cup  with  Samian  wine,"  and  saw  themselves  in  im 
agination  returning  to  Spain  covered  with  glory 
and  laden  with  gold. 

Thus  they  rejoiced  as  the  pale  blue  in  the  far- 
off  horizon  informed  them  that  they  were  nearing 
the  flowery  land.  The  last  day  of  May  found  them 
at  the  shores  of  the  mainland.  The  ships,  save  one 
caravel  and  two  brigantines  to  patrol  the  coast, 
were  sent  back  to  their  starting  place.  Thus  the 
men  of  adventure  learned  there  was  no  retreat. 
"Forward  and  onward"  was  to  be  their  motto.  If 
Isabel  and  Leonora  could  have  looked  across  the 
sea  from  the  port  of  Havana  in  Cuba  to  that  of  Es- 
pirito  Santo,  or  what  is  now  known  as  Tampa,  Flor 
ida,  they  would  have  seen  not  many  hours  later,  the 
stirring  scenes  of  war,  a  sort  of  warfare  cruelly 
strange,  but  terrible  in  its  intensity.  Tachuco,  the 
evil  genius  of  the  expedition,  had  gone  on  before. 
From  the  spot  where  he  slew  the  negro  Estivanico, 
he  had  gone  forth  to  rouse  the  creatures  of  the  for 
ests,  more  dangerous  than  beasts  of  prey.  But 
little  did  the  Indians  need  arousement.  The  un- 
forgetting  red  man  remembered  the  unthinkable 


46  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

atrocities  of  Narvaez.  The  noseless  and  motherless 
Hirrihigua,  who  had  been  mutilated  and  bereaved 
by  the  white  men  of  that  former  expedition,  was  in 
waiting  with  his  thousands  of  fighting  men.  To 
such  a  land  of  hate  and  unfriendliness  the  eager 
Spaniards  came.  They  passed  a  peaceful  night  on 
shore  in  careless  security;  but  with  the  breaking  of 
the  day  there  burst  upon  their  ears  savage  yells, 
and  a  copious  rain  of  fast-driven  arrows.  The  ar 
mor  of  the  Spanish  soldiers  was  buckled  on  in  haste 
and  all  reinforcements  held  in  readiness.  Now  was 
the  time  to  try  their  noble  horses,  point  the  lance, 
swing  the  battle  axe,  or  fire  their  ancient  guns. 

The  elder  Porcella,  lieutenant  of  the  army,  with  a 
band  of  dashing  cavaliers,  led  the  way.  The  young 
er  men,  among  them  Juan  de  Leon,  Rodrique  Go 
mez,  and  a  goodly  company  of  youths  pursued  the 
trail  through  the  winding  pathways.  Making  a  quick 
dash,  they  drove  back  the  oncoming  redskins,  and 
returned  flushed  with  marked  elation  over  victory 
in  the  first  sniff  of  battle.  But  they  knew  not  the 
persistence  of  their  feathered  adversaries.  Finding 
their  way  to  the  nearest  village,  two  leagues  distant, 
they  prepared  their  encampment.  In  the  deserted 
homes,  where  but  recently  the  natives  sojourned, 
they  made  their  homes,  and  thus  they  lived  beneath 
the  palm-thatched  roofs  made  by  the  naked  sav 
ages.  Thither  they  brought  their  prisoners  of  war, 
and  among  them  a  white  man,  willing  prisoner, 
John  Ortiz,  by  name.  The  poor  man  had  just  been 
captured,  or,  better,  rescued  from  his  seven  years 
or  more  of  exile. 


"INTO  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN"        47 

Hear  now,  O  reader,  the  white  man's  story  of  his 
days  of  peril  and  daily  fear  of  death.  Seated  at 
the  doorway  of  the  Adelantado's  headquarters,  he 
told  his  tale  to  the  leading  officers  of  the  expedi 
tion. 

"I  can  tell  but  a  small  portion  of  my  manifold 
trials,"  he  said.  "From  the  hour  of  my  landing  at 
the  bay  where  your  ships  have  just  touched,  my  life 
has  been  one  long  and  dismal  nightmare.  We 
came  in  search  of  Pamphilo  Narvaez  and  his  men; 
and  before  we  landed,  saw  a  letter,  raised  on  a 
cleft  reed,  stuck  in  the  ground.  Supposing  the  note 
contained  instructions  left  by  Narvaez,  giving  infor 
mation  of  his  movements  and  destination,  we  sought 
to  gain  it.  As  we  gazed  on  shore  the  Indians 
swarmed  from  the  country  round  about.  The  chief 
pointed  to  the  missive  we  prized  so  highly,  and 
called  to  us  to  come  and  get  it.  This  we  did,  four 
of  us  stepping  on  shore,  and  according  to  agreement, 
placing  on  our  ship  four  Indians,  who  volunteered 
to  go  as  hostages,  to  prove  no  treachery  was  con 
templated. 

"Thus  we  came,  unsuspecting  white  men;  but  no 
sooner  had  we  reached  shore  than  the  four  Indians 
on  the  ship  leaped  overboard,  swam  for  land,  and 
joined  their  fellows  in  such  a  scene  of  craftily  con 
trived  vengeance  as  has  never  been  surpassed,  I 
think.  Then  the  crew  of  the  Spanish  vessel,  seeing 
the  number  of  the  enemy,  and  dreading  further  mis 
hap,  made  sail  with  all  haste,  abandoning  us,  their 
luckless  comrades,  to  our  fate.  In  savage  triumph 
we  were  escorted  to  this  village;  in  fact,  were 


48  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

brought  before  this  very  house,  where  now  I  tell  my 
story.  I  remember  it  so  well,  in  spite  of  the  dread 
ful  scenes  which  might  well  drive  from  man's 
mind  the  picture  of  the  world  about  him.  Here,  in 
this  place,  we  were  confined  until  a  certain  day  of 
religious  festival,  placed  under  a  strong  guard  of 
determined  and  watchful  warriors. 

"The  day  of  vengeful  celebration  came,  and  with 
its  coming  the  tribe  assembled,  and  we,  brought 
forth  for  torture,  that  thus  we  might  atone  for  the 
offenses  committed  against  the  chief  by  the  merci 
less  Narvaez.  There  the  sins  of  our  brethren  were 
visited  upon  us.  Stripped  naked,  led  to  the  public 
square,  turned  loose  in  the  amphitheatre  of  the 
wrathful  Indians,  we  were  shot  at  by  arrows,  one 
at  a  time.  While  I  waited  my  turn,  I  saw  Manuel 
Garcia  fall,  and  de  Lara,  my  dearest  friend.  How 
my  very  soul  went  out  to  him !  I  would  have  given 
my  life  to  save  him.  Then  Philip  Ronda  went  down, 
pierced  to  the  heart,  and  then  I  waited  my  summons 
to  death.  By  that  time,  after  witnessing  such  scenes 
of  studied  torment,  where  my  three  friends  had 
been  forced  to  run  from  corner  to  corner,  vainly 
seeking  some  nook  of  safety — by  that  time  I  say,  my 
only  desire  was  that  my  death  might  be  quick,  that 
my  tormentors  might  favor  me  with  the  mercy  of 
suddenness  of  death.  I  was  but  eighteen  then,  with 
out  the  marks  of  age,  which  have  hastily  crept  upon 
me  during  these  trying  years.  'My  turn  next,'  I 
hopelessly  whispered  to  myself,  as  they  led  me  into 
the  unfair  arena. — 'my  turn  next.'  Just  then,  to  my 
amazement  and,  I  may  say,  disappointment,  for  I 


"INTO  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN"         49 

wished  the  ordeal  over  as  speedily  as  possible,  just 
then  the  hand  of  the  savage  that  led  me  was  stayed. 
I  heard  a  woman's  voice,  and  saw  the  form  of  an 
Indian  maid.  Her  name  was  Ticitia.  I  have  grate 
ful  cause  of  remembering  that  name  and  the  good 
woman  who  bore  it.  'Stay !'  she  cried  in  deter 
mined  accent.  'The  Chief's  daughter  and  her  moth 
er  have  interceded  in  this  young  man's  behalf. 
Their  appeal  is  heard.' 

"My  life  in  this  manner  was  spared,  but  thence 
forth  I  lived  a  wretched  existence,  a  living  death. 
From  morning  until  evening  I  was  compelled  to 
bring  wood  and  carry  water.  I  was  allowed  but 
little  sleep  and  food.  Not  a  day  passed  without 
some  cruel  beating.  On  festivals  (and  they  came 
round  with  remarkable  frequency)  I  was  an  object 
of  amusement  to  the  Cacique,  who  compelled  me  to 
run,  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  in  the  public  square  of 
the  village,  where  my  companions  had  met  their  un 
timely  end — Indians  being  stationed  with  bows  and 
arrows  to  shoot  me  should  I  halt  one  moment.  As 
each  day  came  to  a  close  I  threw  myself  on  the  hard 
floor  of  my  hut  more  dead  than  alive.  At  such 
times,  like  guardian  angels,  the  daughter  of  the 
chief  and  her  attending  women  would  come  with 
food  and  clothing,  and  by  their  kind  treatment  my 
life  was  preserved.  At  length  I  saw  in  the  terrible 
eye  of  the  Cacique  a  determined  purpose  to  end  my 
life.  At  his  command  I  was  bound,  outstretched  up 
on  a  wooden  frame,  in  form  a  huge  gridiron.  Thus 
fastened,  I  was  brought  to  the  public  square  and 
placed  over  a  bed  of  live  coals,  there  to  be  roasted 


50  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

alive.  My  cries  and  shrieks,  which  I  could  not  re 
strain,  reached  my  female  protectors,  who  were 
once  more  successful  with  the  head  of  the  tribe.  I 
was  unbound,  dragged  from  the  fire,  taken  to  the 
nearest  dwelling,  where  again  my  angels  of  mercy 
bathed  me  with  the  juice  of  herbs  and  attended  me 
with  assiduous  care. 

"After  days  of  agony  I  recovered  from  my 
wounds,  though  marked  with  many  scars.  Once 
more  I  was  put  to  a  laborious  task.  In  a  lonely 
field,  the  very  bosom  of  the  forest,  was  I  taken, 
to  the  wild  man's  cemetery,  there  to  guard  the 
graves  of  his  dead.  Perhaps  you  passed  them  on 
Vour  way — wooden  boxes,  covered  with  boards 
without  fastening,  except  a  stone  or  log  of  wood 
laid  upon  the  top;  so  the  bodies,  thus  poorly  pro 
tected,  were  often  carried  away  by  wild  beasts. 
Those  bodies  I  was  placed  to  guard.  In  that  cem 
etery,  with  bow  and  arrows,  I  was  stationed  to 
watch  day  and  night,  and  I  was  told  that,  should 
a  single  body  be  carried  away  I  would  be  burned 
alive ;  but  there  I  returned  thanks  to  God  for  having 
freed  me  from  the  dreaded  presence  of  the  Cacique, 
hoping  to  lead  a  better  life  with  the  dead  than  during 
the  weeks  past  I  had  spent  with  the  living  of  the 
same  country. 

"While  watching  thus  one  wearisome  night,  sleep 
overpowered  me  just  before  the  morning  dawned. 
I  was,  with  fortune  suddenly  awakened  by  a  mys 
terious  sound.  I  listened.  It  was  the  falling  lid 
of  one  of  the  chests.  Hastily  jumping  to  my  feet,  I 
ran  whence  the  sound  had  come,  and  found  an  emp- 


"INTO  THE  GREAT  UNKNOWN"        51 

ty  casket  which,  to  my  knowledge,  had  contained 
the  body  of  an  infant  recently  deceased,  the  child 
of  an  Indian  of  great  note.  As  I  pictured  to  myself 
the  tortures  of  being  burned  alive,  I  set  out  in  pur 
suit  of  the  beast — for  such  it  was — which  had  rob 
bed  the  abode  of  the  dead.  A  short  distance  within 
the  woods  there  came  upon  my  ear  the  noise  as  of 
a  dog  gnawing  a  bone.  Warily  drawing  near  to  the 
spot  I  dimly  perceived  an  animal  among  the  bushes, 
and  invoking  succor  from  on  high,  I  let  fly  an 
arrow  at  the  ravenous  creature.  The  thick  and 
tangled  underwood  brought  me  no  sound.  The 
animal  did  not  stir.  Impatiently  I  waited  till  the 
dawn  of  day,  hoping  my  shot  had  been  a  fatal  one. 
It  was.  Next  day  I  found  a  fierce  looking  animal 
of  the  panther  kind,  lying  dead,  with  my  arrow 
through  his  heart.  Gathering  together  the  mangled 
remains  of  the  little  child,  I  replaced  them  in  the 
coffin,  then  dragged  my  victim  in  triumph  to  the 
village  with  the  arrows  still  in  his  body. 

"The  exploit  gained  me  credit  with  the  old  hunt 
ers  of  the  tribe,  and  for  some  time  softened  even 
the  ferocity  of  the  Cacique.  But  the  old  Indian's 
resentment  of  the  white  main's  wrongs  was  too 
bitter  long  to  be  appeased.  I  received  one  day  a 
warning  from  the  princess  that  her  father  had  de 
termined  to  sacrifice  me  at  the  next  festival,  which 
was  close  at  hand,  and — she  said — the  influence  of 
herself  and  mother  would  no  longer  avail.  She 
wished  me  therefore  to  take  speedy  refuge  with  a 
neighboring  cacique,  a  noble  Indian  named  Mu- 
cozo,  who  loved  her,  and  sought  her  hand  in  mar- 


52  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

riage,  and  who  for  her  sake  these  many  days  has 
befriended  me.  At  the  merciful  Ticitia's  command, 
that  night,  at  midnight,  toward  the  northern  ex 
tremity  of  the  village  I  met  a  trusted  guide  who 
led  me  to  a  little  bridge  across  a  neighboring  stream, 
two  leagues  distant,  and  pointing  away  to  the  west, 
said,  'Six  leagues  hence  you  will  find  the  village 
of  Mucozo.  Tell  him  Ticitia  has  sent  you,  and 
expects  him  to  befriend  you  in  your  extremity. 
This  he  will  surely  do.  Go,  and  may  your  God 
protect  you !' 

"Obediently  and  joyously  I  went,  and  found  my 
self  at  break  of  day  on  the  banks  of  a  small  stream 
near  the  village  of  Mucozo.  Speedily  I  found  the 
noble  ruler,  brought  him  the  message  from  his  mis 
tress,  and  thus  for  full  nigh  seven  years  I  have  lived 
on  his  hospitality.  The  vindictive  Hirrihigua  has 
often  sought  me  as  a  fugitive ;  but  the  generous  Mu 
cozo  again  and  again  has  refused  to  deliver  me  up 
to  my  cruel  enemy,  maintaining  inviolate  the  sacred 
rites  of  hospitality.  The  very  request  of  the  ter 
rible  cacique  he  has  treated  as  a  stain  upon  his 
honor.  His  chieftains  tell  me  he  seems  to  have  lost 
the  friendship  of  the  cacique  and  his  people,  and 
even  forfeited  the  hand  of  her  he  tenderly  loved, 
the  beautiful  daughter  of  Herrihigua.  But  here 
comes  a  company  of  braves  from  Mucozo,  and,  me- 
thinks  the  good  man  himself  is  also  among  them, 
as  I  besought  him.  'Tis  he,  I  know." 


CHAPTER  VI. 
"ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL." 

The  camp  had  given  itself  up  to  merriment,  and 
the  cause  of  this  joy  was  the  liberation  of  the  captive 
Ortiz.  His  return  to  the  white  man's  country 
brought  an  outburst  of  revelry.  The  first  night 
after  his  deliverance  not  an  eye  was  closed  among 
the  thousand  in  the  little  settlement ;  and  when, 
three  days  later,  the  noble  Mucozo,  his  Indian 
friend,  arrived,  the  hearts  of  all  were  full  of  glad 
ness.  The  rescued  exile  had  just  finished  the  com 
plete  recital  of  his  extraordinary  years  of  servitude. 
Looking  toward  the  entrance  of  the  reservation,  he 
discerned  the  familiar  faced  warriors  who  for  many 
days  had  been  his  steadfast  companions  and  pro 
tectors.  Among  them  appeared  the  well  loved  form 
of  Mucozo. 

The  cacique  approached,  kissed  the  hands  of  the 
Governor  with  great  veneration,  saluted  each  of  the 
officers,  and  made  a  slight  obeisance  to  the  privates. 
After  appropriate  salutation,  de  Soto  in  affectionate 
words  addressed  him :  "Generous  friend  and  worthy 
ruler,  accept  the  assurances  of  my  people  that  their 
hearts  go  out  to  you  in  grateful  acknowledgment  of 
these  years  of  kindness  to  this  man,  our  country 
man  and  brother.  We  commend  you  for  your  hu 
manity,  and  thank  you  for  your  hospitality." 

"What  I  have  done  for  Ortiz,"  the  Indian  respond- 


54  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

ed,  "is  but  little.  He  came  commended  to  me  by  one 
of  greater  worth  than  I,  and  threw  himself  upon  my 
protection.  There  is  a  law  of  our  tribe,  which  for 
bids  our  betraying  a  fugitive  who  asks  of  us  an 
asylum.  We  have  also  found  that  this  man's  virtue 
and  courage  entitle  him  to  all  the  respect  we  have 
shown  him.  That  I  have  pleased  your  people,  I  be- 
joice  exceedingly,  and  by  devoting  myself  hence 
forth,  to  their  service,  I  hope  to  merit  their  esteem." 

Gifts  were  then  presented  to  Mucozo  and  his  offi 
cers,  and  for  a  week  and  more  the  Chieftain  tarried 
in  the  camp,  as  de  Soto's  guest.  No  unpleasant 
incident  marred  his  stay  among  the  white  men.  His 
spirit  was  one  of  perfect  confidence  toward  the 
strangers.  Not  so  the  Cacique's  aged  mother,  who 
also  visited  camp,  and  came  to  Ortiz  in  his  new 
quarters,  five  days  after  her  son's  arrival  at  the 
place.  The  poor  woman  was  overwhelmed  with 
grief  because  her  son  was  in  the  power  of  the  white 
men.  She  passionately  entreated  the  Governor  to 
deliver  up  her  son,  and  not  serve  him  as  Narvaez 
had  served  Hirrihigua.  "He  is  young,"  she  said; 
"only  give  him  his  liberty,  and  take  me,  who  am  a 
poor  old  woman,  and  treat  me  as  you  please,  I  will 
bear  any  punishment  for  both." 

"Bring  her  to  my  quarters,"  requested  the  Gov 
ernor.  "There  she  shall  have  the  best  our  supplies 
afford.  We  shall,  of  course,  treat  the  good  woman 
with  the  greatest  kindness  and  esteem." 

Thus  for  three  days  she  sat  at  the  Governor's 
table ;  but  she  still  continued  anxious  and  suspicious. 
She  would  partake  of  nothing  until  Ortiz  had  tasted 
it ;  fearing  she  might  be  poisoned. 


"ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL"        55 

"How  is  this,"  said  the  Spaniard  to  her,  "that  you 
have  now  so  great  fear  of  death,  you  who  offered 
to  die  for  your  son  ?" 

"I  have  the  same  love  of  life  as  other  mortals," 
she  replied,  "but  most  willingly  would  I  lose  it  to 
save  a  son,  who  is  far  dearer  to  me  than  life  itself." 

Even  when  assured  of  the  perfect  liberty  of  Mu- 
cozo,  and  that  he  only  remained  for  a  time  with  the 
Spaniards  through  choice  because  they  were  young 
braves  like  himself,  she  was  but  poorly  comforted, 
and  departed  sorrowing  to  her  home.  Her  parting 
words  she  addressed  to  Ortiz:  "My  son,  you  re 
member,  saved  you  from  the  evil  hand  of  Hirrihi- 
gua.  I  beseech  you  liberate  my  son.  Harm  him 
not." 

Thus  the  mother's  love  drove  her  along  in  un 
remitting  anxiety. 

But  all  Indians  are  not  alike.  Ortiz  knew  this  to 
be  true.  Before  many  days  had  passed  Juan  de 
Leon,  Rodrigue  Gomez  and  a  score  of  other  Span 
iards  found  it  so.  The  courtesies  with  the  good 
Mucozo  were  soon  ended.  In  those  sullen  wilds 
the  cavaliers  found  little  place  for  aught  save  work 
and  warfare.  True  they  were  as  ready  for  pleasure 
and  indulgence  as  for  the  quest  of  gold  and,  sought 
gold  and  glory,  not  hostilities;  but  the  wilderness 
called  to  war.  As  they  went  on  their  way,  every 
tree  seemed  to  hide  a  hostile  Indian,  every  rock 
sheltered  a  dozen  foemen,  who  rained  arrows  on 
their  heads  and  at  their  horses.  The  voice  of  the 
forest  sounded  the  summons  to  conflict.  "I  give 
you  war,  not  peace,"  it  seemed  to  say.  The  very 
streams  as  they  ran  murmured  vindictively  the 


56  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

hostile  refrain,  and  called  for  vengeance  upon  the 
ruthless  invaders.  Thus  the  white  men  found  that 
the  Indian  and  his  abode  were  not  their  friends. 
War,  implacable  and  incessant  was  the  order  of 
their  days. 

"Some  devil  is  loose  in  these  woods,  Ortiz.  For 
these  days,  in  sooth,  since  we  parted  with  the  peo 
ple  of  Mucozo,  the  Fates  have  been  against  us. 
Our  very  victories  are  losses.  We  end  one  fight, 
simply  to  begin  another,  and  we  are  fighting  all 
along  the  way." 

The  speaker  was  Juan  de  Leon.  The  forward 
march  had  been  begun.  De  Soto  had  pushed  on 
ahead,  after  questioning  Juan  Ortiz  concerning  pros 
pects  of  gold.  Ortiz  had  said,  "I  know  of  none. 
When  with  Hirrihigua,  I  was  closely  watched,  and 
not  allowed  to  wander ;  and  although  while  dwelling 
with  Mucozo  I  had  perfect  liberty,  yet  I  dared  not 
venture  far,  through  fear  of  being  waylaid  by  my 
enemies.  Away  to  the  west,  thirty  leagues  distant," 
he  added,  "I  have  heard  much  of  a  cacique  by  name 
Urribarracaxi,  the  most  powerful  chieftain  of  the 
country.  To  this  chief  the  other  rulers  pay  tribute. 
In  his  land  there  must  be  wealth,  perhaps  abundance 
of  gold."  So  de  Soto  advanced  with  part  of  his 
fighting  force,  to  find  the  country  of  the  wealthy 
cacique,  taking  with  him  Juan  de  Leon  and  Juan 
Ortiz  among  the  number  of  his  aids. 

Passing  from  tribe  to  tribe,  he  asked  the  ques 
tion:  "Where  can  we  find  gold?"  The  universal 
answer  was  the  single  word  "beyond."  Even  the 
friendly  Indian  of  Mucozo  pointed  them  onward. 
"Away  to  the  west,"  they  said,  "gold  can  be  found. 


"ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL"        57 

There  is  none  in  this  country."  Seventeen  leagues 
distant  some  captured  Indians  were  brought  before 
the  Governor.  When  questioned,  the  red  skins  had 
replies  which  to  a  suspicious  mind  would  suggest, 
the  wily  natives  had  been  taught  the  answer  which 
they  gave :  "Not  here  in  our  land,  but  some  leagues 
beyond  gold  may  be  found."  These  captives  Ortiz 
questioned  more  at  length.  From  one,  more  elo 
quent  than  the  rest,  the  Spaniards  thought  they  had 
at  length  hit  upon  a  promising  clue.  "There  is  a 
country  to  the  west,"  he  said,  "called  Ocali.  There 
the  inhabitants  are  continually  at  war  with  the  peo 
ple  of  another  province.  There  the  spring  lasts  the 
whole  year  long  and  there  gold  is  plenty,  so  abundant 
is  it  that  the  warriors  wear  head  pieces  of  the 
precious  metal  upon  their  heads  when  they  go  forth 
to  battle." 

With  fresh  hope  the  Governor  spurred  his  men 
to  press  forward  in  search  of  Ocali,  the  land  of 
gold.  Behind  him  lay  the  various  tribes  through 
whose  lands  the  Spaniards  passed,  and  as  they  went 
their  way,  behind  them  hid  the  chiefs  and  their 
warriors  in  the  forest  wilds,  and  about  them  also 
roamed  the  lurking  savages,  ready  to  fall  upon  that 
careless  white  man  who  might  show  himself  too  far 
from  the  line  of  march.  Here  and  there  a  chief  was 
captured,  and  several  of  his  men,  that  thus  secured 
with  hostages  of  the  tribe  the  Governor  and  his 
soldiery  might  pass  through  the  cacique's  territory 
in  perfect  safety  from  attack.  Hirrihigua,  the  ugly 
chief  whom  first  they  sought,  had  evaded  them ;  and 
others  also  warned  by  their  leader  of  the  tribes. 
Porcella  had  been  sent  bearing  messages  of  peace 


58  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

to  Hirrihigua,  but  as  the  Spanish  soldiers  proceeded 
on  their  errand  messengers  met  them  on  the  way, 
bringing  information  that  the  cacique  had  secreted 
himself  in  the  heart  of  the  forest  and  could  not  be 
found.  Disregarding  the  message  Porcella  pressed 
forward  and  a  dozen  Indian  informants  brought  the 
same  communication :  "Hirrihigua  cannot  be  found. 
If  the  white  man  proceeds  he  will  be  lost  in  the 
forest  maze,  or  find  himself  sinking  in  the  murky 
swamps."  This  was  the  only  reply  Porcella  had 
to  bring  to  his  superior,  save  this  polite  response 
from  Hirrihigua  himself  declining  all  overtures  of 
peace.  The  cacique's  message  was  as  follows  :  "The 
memory  of  my  injuries  forbids  my  sending  a  kind 
answer,  and  a  harsh  one  your  courtesy  will  not  al 
low  me  to  return."  The  old  Indian  could  not  forget 
the  evil  treatment  of  Narvaez.  Thus  the  sins  of 
the  former  white  man's  visit  were  visited  upon 
the  expedition  which  followed,  as  had  been  done 
before ;  but  there  seemed  still  another  force  at  work. 

Porcella  on  his  return  from  his  unsuccessful  ad 
vance  brought  a  report  which  set  the  mind  of  Juan 
de  Leon  hard  at  work.  It  was  the  saying  of  the 
dashing  Cuban  that,  among  the  couriers  of  the  ca 
cique  who  met  the  company,  was  one  who  knew  the 
Spanish  tongue.  Intelligent  and  alert,  he  eyed  the 
white  man,  but  was  slow  of  approach  until  apparent 
ly  satisfied  they  were  such  men  as  he  dared  face. 

"I  told  him,"  said  Porcella,  "he  need  not  fear  us  ; 
and  he  seemed  not  to  be  afraid  when  at  length  he 
gave  his  message;  but  this  is  what  surprised  me, 
he  knew  the  Spanish  tongue  so  well,  I  almost  asked 
him,  had  he  ever  been  to  Spain.  Another  incident 


"ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL"         59 

of  our  meeting  brought  importance  to  the  Indian. 
Rodrique  Gomez,  who  was  busy  nearby,  but  did  not 
see  the  man's  face,  for  he  turned  away  abruptly,  re 
marked,  'that  Indian's  voice  seems  familiar.'  Then 
after  the  red  man  had  disappeared  completely  in  his 
native  haunts,  Rodrique  told  me,  there  came  over 
him  as  a  flash,  the  thought,  that  Indian  is  none 
other  than  the  treacherous  Tachuco." 

Juan  de  Leon  therefore  reasoned:  "The  hateful 
Tachuco  is  now  abroad.  His  threat  voiced  months 
before  he  is  now  carrying  out.  He  boasted :  'You 
will  hear  from  me  later."  We  are  now  hearing 
from  him." 

Juan  de  Leon  conjectured  more  truly  than  he 
thought;  but  as  he  went  forward  in  the  onward 
march  of  the  Adelantado's  army  he  determined  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  wily  Tachuco,  if  such  should 
be  the  case,  that  he  followed  the  course  of  the  troops, 
and  was  spreading  among  the  tribes  and  their  chiefs 
an  undying  spirit  of  hate,  and  the  summons  to  un 
ending  warfare.  He  reflected  upon  the  many  replies 
of  the  messages  of  the  different  caciques,  where  each 
reply  to  the  question:  "Where  can  we  find  gold?" 
was  identical.  Tribe  after  tribe  brought  the  self 
same  message:  "The  gold  is  to  be  found  beyond." 
The  answer  once  aroused  the  thoughtful  de  Leon. 
With  Ortiz  he  had  questioned  a  captive  on  the 
borders  of  Ocali.  The  stolid  Indian  replied:  "In 
our  country  no  gold  is  to  be  found.  Seek  it  beyond." 

"Tell  him,  Ortiz,"  quickly  said  the  nettled  Juan. 
"Tell  him  we  have  heard  that  answer  long  enough. 
They  are  treacherous  words.  Ask  him  who  taught 


60  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

his  tongue  that  speech.    Was  it  a  bad  Indian  named 
Tachuco  ?" 

Immediately  the  features  of  the  Indian  relaxed 
into  show  of  feeling  as  he  heard  the  question,  and 
beheld  the  impatient  looks  of  de  Leon.  By  a  river 
bank  the  whites  and  the  Indians  talked.  The  con 
versation  had  been  friendly  save  for  this  single 
ripple  on  their  fellowship ;  yet  beneath  that  savage's 
coat  of  red  there  burned  the  hatred  of  his  tribe. 
The  language  of  de  Leon,  and  his  irritated  glance, 
roused  the  smouldering  flame  of  rage.  Quick  as  the 
fast  running  stream  by  which  the  men  of  diverse 
tongues  and  thoughts  conversed,  the  sullen  Indian 
raised  his  arm  and  with  his  bow  violently  struck 
the  Spaniard.  Then  with  a  war  whoop  threw  him 
self  into  the  water.  His  companions  followed.  As 
it  chanced  with  the  cavaliers  that  day  was  that  faith 
ful  hound,  which  on  several  occasions,  by  his  won 
derful  sagacity  and  his  innate  fearlessness,  had  en 
deared  himself  to  the  whole  company  of  knights. 
That  special  dog  was  a  noble  beast.  He  seemed 
half  human.  No  soldier  of  the  hundreds  beneath 
the  flag  of  Spain  in  those  vast  wilds  was  his  superior 
in  usefulness  about  the  camp.  At  night  his  pres 
ence  meant  safety  from  attack.  By  day  the  faithful 
beast  seemed  ever  alert;  and  when  he  was  loose  no 
hostile  Indian  dared  draw  near.  That  impulsive 
savage  with  whom  the  white  men  talked  knew  not 
the  prowess  of  the  hound. 

The  blow  had  scarce  been  struck.  The  savages 
had  hardly  reached  the  waters  of  the  swollen  stream, 
when  the  dog  plunged  forward.  In  he  went  after 
the  swimmers.  Passing  several  of  the  Indians  with- 


"ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL"        61 

out  molesting  them,  he  reached  that  brave  who  had 
made  the  assault  upon  the  unsuspecting  de  Leon; 
and  laying  hold  of  the  man,  in  fierce  attack,  he  tore 
him  to  pieces.  De  Leon  and  Ortiz  returned  to  the 
camp ;  and  as  they  went,  they  seemed  to  hear  the 
angry  cries  of  the  companions  of  the  hapless  man, 
as  the  warriors,  after  reaching  the  opposite  bank, 
sank  still  deeper  into  the  forest.  Their  voices  were 
dying  away.  Just  then  there  seemed  to  join  theirs 
another  voice. 

"It  is  the  voice  of  the  evil  Tachuco,"  whispered 
de  Leon,  speaking  rather  to  himself  than  to  Ortiz 
by  his  side.  "Yes,  it  is  Tachuco's  voice.  I  think 
I  understand  his  words.  Listen,  Ortiz.  Does  the 
wretch  not  say :  'White  men,  you  are  hearing  from 
me  now.' ' 

Juan  had  not  seen  the  unforgiving  Indian,  nor, 
heard  him  speak  since  that  eventful  and  pleasant 
night  he  sat  with  Leonora  on  the  porch  of  the  Count 
Gomera's  palace.  That  scene  now  came  before  him 
as  he  heard  Tachuco  once  more  hurl  defiance  at 
the  white  man.  In  his  tent  that  night  he  threw  him 
self  down  in  meditation.  A  restless  spirit  came 
upon  him,  such  as  drives  a  man  to  change  some 
course  of  life  he  has  pursued.  He  could  not  sleep. 
Had  he  felt  a  battle  were  near  at  hand,  he  would 
have  sought  forgetfulness  in  mad  strife  of  conflict. 
For  many  weeks  he  thus  had  stilled  his  mind  in  quiet 
forgetfulness ;  but  that  night  certain  memories 
would  not  down.  Like  the  sight  of  some  friendly 
coast  to  the  tired  mariner,  or,  as  the  scenes  of  home 
to  the  home-sick  wanderer,  there  came  to  Juan  de 
Leon  the  sweet  face  of  the  woman  he  really  loved. 


62  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

The  vision  would  not  leave  him.  Nor  did  he  wish 
it  to  depart.  At  first  he  fancied  it  reproached  him 
for  his  coldness,  when  the  man  and  the  woman 
were  last  together. 

"Yes,"  Leonora,"  he  said,  as  though  she  were 
present  to  hear.  "Yes,  Leonora,  we  might  have 
had  a  better  time  in  Cuba,  you  and  I.  It  was  not 
that  I  loved  you  less ;  but,  preparing  as  I  was,  for 
the  coming  months  of  hardship  and  separation,  I 
steeled  my  face  against  you ;  but  my  heart  was  not 
so  hard.  Forgive  me,  if  you  can,  sweet  maid." 

Then  the  features  of  the  face  which  graced  the 
vision  marked  a  smile  of  kindliness  and  love.  Lines 
of  pain,  which  had  rested  there,  quickly  departed. 
A  new  expression  appeared,  and,  as  the  soldier 
fondly  gazed,  he  read  the  message:  "Juan,  dear, 
now  all  is  well  I  know."  The  night  passed  hurried 
ly,  without  incident,  save  now  and  then  the  move 
ment  of  the  sentinel  who  watched  the  camp,  or  the 
sound  of  the  crushing  in  the  underbrush  as  the 
faithful  hounds  warned  off  the  prowling  spies  of  the 
neighboring  cacique.  Thus  the  night  rolled  on  as 
many  others  had  done,  eight  hours  of  tired  sleep  to 
be  followed  by  an  early  advance  with  the  break  of 
day. 

On  the  army  marched,  eager  to  enter  the  vast 
province  of  the  chieftain  Vitachuco,  or  whom  the 
Spaniards  had  heard  so  much.  Having  captured 
thirty  Indians  to  serve  as  guides,  they  pressed  for 
ward.  "The  gold  was  just  beyond,"  they  thought. 
True,  some  of  the  rank  and  file  at  times  grew  skep 
tical  ;  but  the  determined  de  Soto  never  faltered. 
Of  course,  the  gold  "was  beyond."  It  certainly  was 


"ON  THE  WHITE  MAN'S  TRAIL"        63 

not  yet  at  hand.  So  on  they  went.  The  Genoese, 
Francisco,  by  name,  the  only  shipwright  in  the  army 
built  the  needed  bridges  across  the  streams.  They 
were  rude  affairs;  but  answered  every  purpose  for 
man  and  beast,  camp  equipment,  and  provisions  car 
ried  along  the  way.  Thus  on  they  went,  across 
fords,  through  wooded  field  and  quiet  valley,  on, 
through  the  never-ending  wilderness,  and,  as  they 
went,  they  seemed  to  read  the  message  in  the  woods 
through  which  they  passed,  "The  gold  is  beyond." 
Thus  they  came  in  eagerness  to  the  famed  land  of 
the  cacique,  Vitachuco. 

Vitachuco  was  the  strongest  chieftain  of  three 
brothers,  ruling  in  that  land.  Passing  through  the 
villages  of  the  weaker  brothers,  with  clamor  of 
drum  and  sound  of  trumpet,  seizing  the  Indians 
terrified  and  amazed,  surrounding  the  mansion  of 
the  cacique,  overcoming  the  guards,  bringing  gen 
eral  dismay,  they  caused  the  people  to  bow  in  sub 
mission.  So  the  army  pressed  on  to  that  portion 
of  the  land  where  Vitachuco  ruled.  This  wily  chief 
was  not  so  easily  brought  into  subjection.  His  first 
answer  to  the  Spanish  invasion  of  his  land  revealed 
the  spirit  of  the  man.  He  sent  this  message :  "Go 
tell  these  white  men  I  love  them  not.  They  come  to 
enslave  my  countrymen.  My  people  have  already 
felt  their  chains,  and  have  seen  their  evil  deeds. 
Are  they  not  the  same  nation  and  subject  to  the  same 
laws  as  those  who  formerly  committed  so  many 
cruelties  in  our  land.  Their  manner  of  life  proves 
them  to  be  children  of  the  Evil  Spirit,  and  not  of  the 
sun  and  moon,  our  gods.  Go  they  not  from  land  to 
land  plundering  and  destroying,  taking  the  wives 


64  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

and  daughters  of  others  instead  of  bringing  their 
own  with  them ;  and,  like  mere  vagabonds,  maintain 
ing  themselves  by  the  laborious  toil  and  sweating 
brow  of  others?  Were  they  virtuous  they  never 
would  have  left  their  own  country,  since  there  they 
might  have  practiced  virtues,  planting  and  cultivat 
ing  the  earth,  maintaining  themselves  without  prej 
udice  to  others  or  injury  to  themselves;  instead  of 
roving  about  the  world  committing  robberies  and 
murders,  having  neither  shame  of  men,  nor  fear  of 
God  before  them.  Warn  them,"  he  said,  "not  to 
enter  my  dominions,  for  I  vow  that,  as  valiant  as 
they  may  be,  if  they  dare  to  put  foot  upon  my  soil, 
they  shall  never  go  out  of  my  land  alive — the  whole 
race  will  I  exterminate." 


CHAPTER  VII. 
"UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS." 

Most  amusing  were  the  menaces  of  the  cacique 
Vitachuco.  Day  after  day  his  messengers  entered 
camp  with  sounding  trumpets,  always  bringing 
greater  bravados  and  taunts  than  any  they  had  yet 
hurled  at  the  white  man's  head.  "Enter  my  prov 
ince,"  he  said,  "and  the  earth  will  open  and  swallow 
you  up ;  the  hills  will  unite  and  bury  your  army  be 
neath  them ;  the  trees  of  the  forest,  through  which 
you  pass,  will  be  uprooted  and  crush  you ;  the  birds 
of  heaven  will  stay  their  flight  to  pounce  upon  you 
with  corroding  poison  in  their  beaks;  the  waters 
along  the  way,  herbs,  trees  and  even  the  air  you 
breathe  with  bring  forth  such  poison  that  neither 
horse  nor  rider,  men  nor  beasts,  can  possibly  escape." 

The  Spaniards  laughed.  "We  will  try  to  quiet 
this  chief,"  de  Soto  remarked.  "These  remarkable 
messages  which  Vitachuco  sends  are  wasted  words. 
We  fear  not  his  tongue;  yet  we  can  travel  faster 
and  we  can  better  win  the  gold  we  seek,  if  this  man 
is  pacified.  Let  us  send  Oculi,  and  his  other  brother, 
our  friend,  and  cool  his  hostile  ardor." 

So  the  two  brothers  of  the  chief  were  dispatched 
on  their  mission  of  peace.  The  fierce  chieftain  pre 
tended  at  length  to  be  won  by  their  persuasion.  He 
agreed  to  enter  into  friendly  intercourse  with  the 
strangers.  He  asked,  however,  certain  pertinent 
questions.  He  said :  "How  many  days  will  these 


66  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

visitors  remain  in  my  domain?  What  provisions 
will  they  seek  when  they  depart,  and  what  other 
things  will  they  wish  to  take  with  them,  from  my 
country,  for  their  journey?" 

"Bring  your  brother  this  answer,"  responded  de 
Soto.  "The  days  of  our  sojourn  will  be  few,  no 
more  than  Vitachuco  desires.  Let  him  name  the  day 
and  we  shall  immediately  depart.  We  wish  no  more 
provisions  than  his  majesty  sees  fit  to  give.  Neither 
have  we  need  of  aught  save  his  honest  friendship." 

These  words  of  de  Soto  pleased  the  chief.  He 
muttered:  "I  am  content,  with  the  Great  White 
Man's  answer,  and  I  will  come,  as  he  requests,  and 
fellowship  with  him  and  his  people." 

The  appeased  cacique  came,  bringing  with  him 
an  abundant  supply  of  provisions  for  the  troops  and 
horses  of  the  Spanish.  He  came  in  splendid  array, 
accompanied  by  his  two  brothers,  and  five  hundred 
warriors,  men  of  graceful  bearing,  adorned  with 
plumes  of  various  colors,  and  armed  with  bows  and 
arrows  of  the  finest  workmanship.  Thus  attended, 
bringing  his  gifts,  visible  tokens  of  friendship,  he 
met  the  Governor  and  his  army  in  the  beautiful  val 
ley  distant  two  leagues  from  the  Indian's  wigwam. 
The  meeting  was  cordial.  The  cacique  was  the  first 
to  speak. 

"I  wsh  to  atone  for  past  threats  and  menaces,"  he 
said.  "I  pledge  my  friendship,  and  place  myself  at 
your  service." 

Very  graciously  did  de  Soto  receive  the  wily  In 
dian  and  accepted  in  good  faith  the  pledges  of  af 
fection  and  promises  of  helpful  alliance. 

"We  will  come  to-morrow  to  your  village,"  volun- 


"UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS"  67 

teered  the  Governor,  "and  there  return  your  cour 
tesies." 

That  night  the  Spanish  Governor  and  his  men 
lay  down  to  sleep  in  sweet  assurance  that  another 
hostile  encounter  had  been  avoided. 

"I  trust  we  shall  have  no  more  fighting,  brother. 
I  am  wearied  with  this  march  through  strange  lands 
and  constant  battles  with  swift-footed  savages." 

It  was  a  priest  who  spoke.  He  was  talking  with 
a  fellow  priest.  There  were  now  a  dozen  or  more 
of  them  in  the  company.  The  clerical  addressed 
was  Barbidilla,  he  who,  at  San  Lucar,  talked  with 
the  two  country  philosophers,  the  old  men,  at  the 
door  of  the  ancient  church.  The  hopes  of  doing 
good  he  then  so  honestly  cherished  had  somewhat 
failed  him;  and  the  aspirations  of  advancement  in 
the  church,  he  then  so  strongly  voiced,  had  not  yet 
been  realized. 

"Oftentimes,  Barbidilla,  I  lose  my  faith  in  mak 
ing  mankind  good.  How  hard  have  I  tried  with 
some  of  these  cavaliers !" 

"But,"  quickly  responded  Barbidilla,  "is  not  Juan 
de  Leon  a  noble  youth?  And  there  is  Ortiz,  the 
Christian  we  found  when  first  we  landed  in  this 
wild.  Is  not  Ortiz  a  good  sort  of  fellow?" 

"Yes,  Barbidilla;  but  notice  Rodrique  Gomez. 
Good  and  true  boy  he  was  at  home  in  Spain ;  but 
see  him  now.  He  has  long  since  forgotten  his 
prayers,  and  now,  thinks  only  of  revel  and  ceaseless 
gambling.  He  has  gambled  away  everything  he 
brought  from  home,  except  what  the  Creator  fas 
tened  on  him  as  skin  and  bone.  He  would  stake 
his  head,  I  fancy,  if  he  didn't  need  it  to  play  the 


68  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

game ;  and,  before  long,  he  will  lose  at  some  venture 
that  prized  slave-girl  of  his,  the  peaceful  Ulia,  whom 
he  but  a  week  ago  secured  in  the  province  of  Uculi." 

"My  brother,  have  I  not  often  sought  to  teach 
you  not  to  see  the  evil,  but  rather  to  discern  the 
good  in  your  fellow  man?"  said  Barbidilla.  "And, 
so  here  in  this  wild  life  in  Florida,  let  us  look  at 
the  honest  Oritz  and  the  virtuous  de  Leon.  Even 
among  these  dark-skinned  brothers  of  ours,  these 
denizens  of  the  forests,  we  can  find  some  truly 
noble  specimens  of  virtuous  life.  That  friendly 
Mucozo,  who  shielded  Ortiz,  is  a  truly  noble  soul. 
I  talked  with  him  thrice  when  he  spent  those  eight 
days  in  our  company.  He's  a  good  Indian;  and, 
by  the  way,  I'd  like  to  see  him  gain  the  princess 
Ticitia.  I  myself  would  like,  some  day,  in  the  sol 
emn  rites  of  the  Church,  to  make  them  man  and 
wife." 

"True,  Barbidilla,  this  example  seems  to  belie 
the  assertion  that  the  only  good  Indian  is  a  dead 
one;  but  from  my  heart  I  dread  this  new-made 
Indian  friend  of  ours,  the  cacique  called  Vitichuco. 
He  changed  too  quickly  from  angry  foe,  to  ardent 
friend.  His  conversation  was  too  sudden  to  be 
sincere." 

"Ah,  there  you  are  again,  my  brother,  seeing  the 
good  with  one  eye,  or  a  blinded  eye,  and  staring  at 
the  evil  with  two  eyes,  and  both  open.  We  must 
believe  Vitichuco.  Did  he  not  repent  of  his  former 
evil  talk?  Did  he  not  bring  us  presents?  See,  you 
yourself,  have  there  a  pair  of  moccasions,  made  by 
one  of  his  squaws." 


"UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS"  69 

"Yes,  but  I  speak  more  fully  than  you  know.  I 
noticed  Ortiz,  when  the  cacique  had  left,  not  many 
hours  ago.  Hurriedly  he  disappeared  in  de  Soto's 
quarters.  An  errand  also  brought  me  thither  at  that 
time.  As  confidant  of  both  men  I  tarried  and  heard 
such  a  tale  of  promised  treachery,  as  should  make 
each  white  man's  blood  boil  and  his  fighting  power 
as  the  strength  of  a  thousand  men.  Listen,  Bar- 
bidilla,  that  cacique  plots  the  destruction  of  our 
forces." 

"What  tells  this?" 

"Ortiz.  He  says  he  learned  it  from  four  different 
Indian  friends  of  his.  In  four  days'  time — the 
day  thus  had  been  set — in  four  days'  time  he  has 
called  a  general  muster  of  his  warriors,  drawn  up 
in  battle  array,  presumably  in  sham  battle  to  show 
their  skill;  but  actually  to  overawe  and  slay  the 
Spanish  troops  and  take  the  Governor  prisoner.  The 
plan  is  well  devised.  Several  companies  of  his 
choicest  soldiers  are  to  conceal  their  weapons  in  the 
neighboring  bushes,  and  at  the  signal  of  their  leader 
are  to  begin  a  general  assault,  first  seizing  the 
Adelantado  and  binding  him  fast.  Thus  they  hope 
to  end  this  expedition  and  forever  rid  themselves 
of  the  hated  white  man." 

That  very  night  while  the  two  priests  talked  the 
captains  of  the  army  were  assembled  in  the  house 
of  their  leader. 

"This,  then,  will  be  our  plan,"  said  the  Governor, 
after  extended  consultation.  "We  shall  beat  this 
crafty  chief  at  his  own  game." 

"Yes,"  said  Muscoso,  "we  will  play  medicine  man, 
and  give  him  some  of  his  own  remedies." 


70  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

Tobar  counselled  immediate  battle,  for  since  his 
downfall  before  his  chief,  he  had  shown  untiring 
zeal,  and  remarkable  courage.  Juan  de  Leon  and 
Ortiz,  and  with  them,  the  others — Nuno  Tobar 
finally  included — then  said  "Amen"  to  de  Soto's 
scheme.  They  would  ensnare  the  subtle  Vitachuco 
in  his  own  trap,  and  so  when  the  message  of  the 
Cacique  was  brought  inviting  the  Spanish  knights 
with  de  Soto  at  their  head  to  witness  a  display  of 
their  Indian  friends  in  order  of  battle  de  Soto  was 
alert  and  on  his  guard.  The  Indian  wished  the 
Spanish  commander  to  tell  him  "whether  the  braves 
of  that  country  knew  how  to  form  their  squadrons 
as  well  as  the  soldiers  of  the  white  nations." 

"I  have  heard,"  he  said,  "your  people  are  so  skilled 
in  the  art  of  war.  Come  and  view  the  training  of 
my  men.  As  many  warriors  as  the  space  will  hold 
I  shall  lead,  unarmed,  remember,  into  the  open.  Let 
the  brave  chief  of  the  white  men  study  their 
maneuvers.  Perhaps  even  from  the  child  of  the 
forest,  he  may  learn  some  lesson." 

With  unsuspicious  air,  the  Governor  replied: 
"Your  soldiery  in  their  peaceful  display  will  please 
me  much.  My  eyes  shall  look  upon  their  movements, 
and  I  shall  ponder  them  well.  But,  likewise,  I  and 
my  troops  shall  furnish  the  Indians  with  a  similar 
exhibition  of  martial  skill.  I  shall  bring  my  squad 
rons  of  soldiers  on  horseback,  and  my  companies  of 
fighting  men  on  foot ;  and  we  shall  have  a  mock 
fight  for  each  other's  entertainment." 

For  a  moment  the  treacherous  cacique  was  silent. 
He  seemed  to  think  this  direful  plotting  was  mis- 


"UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS"  71 

carried.  Was  there  some  traitor  among  his  wig 
wams?  What  could  this  counter  show  of  the  qual 
ity  of  fighting  forces  mean?  Then,  next  moment, 
he  checked  himself,  and  broke  the  silence,  saying: 
"It  is  agreed.  Let  us  see  the  white  man  playing 
war,"  and  as  he  stalked  away,  with  his  back  upon 
the  Spanish  camp,  he  boasted  to  his  four  chosen 
leaders:  "We  outnumber  these  pale  faces,  and  we 
surpass  them  in  valor.  So  let  them  come,  in  peace 
or  warlike  preparation,  and  we  shall  make  their 
soldiers  as  the  fields  of  maize  after  the  hurricane 
has  swept  them,  and  beaten  down  the  grain." 

"The  arrangements  were  completed,  and  the  Span 
iards  marched  forth,  horse  and  foot,  in  battle  array, 
with  glittering  arms  and  fluttering  banners.  The 
Governor  remained  behind  to  accompany  the  Ca 
cique  on  foot.  Thus  he  would  appear  to  be  un 
suspicious  of  the  latent  treason.  He  went,  however, 
fully  armed,  and  ordered  two  of  his  finest  horses  to 
be  led  forth  caparisoned  for  service.  One  of  these, 
the  historian  mentions,  was  a  "beautiful  and  noble- 
spirited  animal."  His  name  was  Aceytuno,  after 
Mateo  de  Aceytuno,  cavalier  who  had  made  him  a 
present  to  the  Governor.  The  companies  of  soldiers, 
the  white  and  the  red,  had  now  reached  the  plain. 
The  fighting  ground  was  level  and  spacious,  a  well- 
chosen  fighting  place  for  the  knights  of  Spain.  To 
the  left  lay  the  dense  forest,  growing  thick  and 
splendid  in  its  native  beauty,  miles  to  the  West.  On 
the  right  rested  two  placid  lakes,  whence  the  In 
dians  took  their  fish,  and  where  they  bathed  in 
summer;  and  where,  in  chill  December,  they  found 


72  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

their  winter's  pastime.  The  nearest  lake  was  about 
a  league  in  circumference,  with  its  banks  clear  of 
trees;  but  so  deep,  three  or  four  feet  from  shore, 
no  footing  could  be  found.  It  had  no  bottom,  so  the 
superstitious  Indians  declared.  The  second  lake 
was  further  off,  and  appeared  like  a  vast  river,  ex 
tending  as  far  as  eye  could  reach.  Between  the 
forest  and  these  lakes,  the  Indians  formed  their 
squadrons,  having  the  lakes  on  their  right  flank, 
and  the  forest  on  their  left.  In  the  thick  grass  of 
the  neighbornig  woods,  they  had  concealed  their 
bows  and  arrows,  and  thence  came  forth  plainly 
unarmed ;  yet  each  savage  knew,  in  an  instant,  he 
could  find  the  tested  bow  and  arrows  and  the  deadly 
tomahawk,  his  ready  weapons,. 

Thus  here  between  lake  and  forest,  the  Indian 
force  of  well  nigh'  ten  thousand  chosen  warriors 
marched.  With  lofty  plumes,  which  made  the  tallest 
look  like  giants  and  those  of  medium  height  like 
good-sized  men,  they  passed  in  military  order.  It 
was  surely  a  beautiful  display.  De  Soto  felt  it 
such,  so  turning  to  the  Cacique,  he  spoke  in  hearty 
praise. 

"Your  men  demand  my  admiration,"  said  the 
Governor. 

The  Cacique  replied:  "Well  said,  white  man." 

The  conversation  was  short,  in  fact,  abrupt,  for 
in  blind  spirit  of  contest,  each  was  burning  with 
the  same  desire  and  determination,  one  against  the 
other. 

It  was  early  morning.  The  sun  had  not  yet  risen 
high,  with  its  burning  heat  to  smite  the  earth.  Again 


"UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS"  73 

de  Soto  was  about  to  speak  in  commendation  of  his 
Indian  rivals,  when  he  noticed  signals  being  passed 
between  the  Cacique  and  the  dozen  leaders  who 
walked  by  his  side.  Before  the  signs  had  been 
fully  given,  a  Spanish  trumpet  gave  a  warning  blast. 
In  an  instant  the  twelve  Spaniards  who  stood  by 
their  Governor's  side  rushed  upon  the  Cacique.  In 
turn  the  attending  Indians  threw  themselves  into 
the  fight  over  the  body  of  their  chief  to  repel  the 
capture  of  the  king;  but  all  in  vain.  Vitachuco  was 
borne  off  a  captive.  Then  the  battle  raged,  one  of 
the  fiercest  the  Spaniards  had  yet  known  in  Florida. 
De  Soto  on  his  favorite  steed  pushed  into  the  thick 
est  of  the  fight.  With  headlong  valor  he  and  his  men 
drove  the  savages  in  confusion.  They  could  not 
withstand  the  impetuous  charge  of  armed  man  and 
driven  horse.  On  upon  the  Indian  squadron  rode 
the  Spanish  troops,  with  the  brave  de  Soto  on  his 
noble  horse  and  gathered  about  him  the  bravest  of 
his  men.  These  were  Moscoso  and  Anasco,  de 
Leon  and  Ortiz.  Rodrique  Gomez  was  also  at  that 
point,  in  utter  recklessness,  fighting  to  get  forward 
and  hew  down  the  ranks  of  the  red  men  before  they 
could  escape. 

The    Indians   were   not   cowards.      They    rallied 
about  their  leaders,  and  charged  upon  de  Soto. 
"Look,"  cried  de  Leon,  "de  Soto  is  unhorsed." 
True,  a  dozen  arrows   had  pierced  that  much- 
prized  horse  and  there  he  lay,  as  though  shot  through 
the  body  with  a  rifle  shot.    A  knight  quickly  alight 
ed  and  gave  the  Governor  his  horse.     Once  more 
the  intrepid  leader  was  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry 


74  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

and  spurred  among  the  hasting,  fighting  Indians. 
With  no  lances  to  defend  them  the  savage  horde 
had  broken  in  a  body  and  fled  in  all  directions. 
Some  plunged  into  the  entangled  forests.  Others 
leaped  into  the  quiet  lake.  Still  others  scattered 
themselves  wildly  over  the  plain,  where  more  than 
three  hundred  were  killed,  and  a  few  were  taken 
prisoners. 

The  scene  of  carnage  now  turned  to  the  smaller 
lake.  Thither  nine  hundred  of  the  bravest  men 
of  Vitachuco  fled,  in  fact,  were  driven,  unable  to 
resist  the  fierce  onslaught  of  their  eager  foe.  Here 
was  a  peculiar  situation.  These  savages  were  good 
swimmers.  The  lake  was  deep,  too  deep  for  wading 
horses.  The  Indians  had  their  bows  and  arrows 
and  could  use  them,  even  in  the  lake,  by  mounting 
on  the  shoulder  of  some  comrade.  Ortiz  for  the 
officers  of  the  army  spoke  to  the  swimming  braves. 

"We  promise  you  safety,  if  you  come  to  shore 
and  surrender." 

The  only  reply  was  an  arrow,  fast  driven,  past 
the  Spaniard's  shoulder.  Then  threats  were  made. 
The  cavaliers  would  shoot  down  the  swimming 
braves.  This  they  did,  and  many  a  savage  felt  the 
missile  of  the  cross-bow  and  arquebuse.  But  among 
those  nine  hundred  there  were  tireless  fighters. 
They  would  not  surrender.  The  night  came  on. 
About  the  shore  the  Spaniards  posted  horsemen, 
by  two  and  two,  and  footmen  in  parties  of  six  near 
to  each  other,  lest  the  Indians  should  escape  in  the 
dark.  Skillfully  some  of  the  battling  tribe  swam 
noiselessly  to  shore,  covered  their  heads  with  leaves 


"UNCERTAIN  FRIENDS"  75 

of  the  water  lily;  but  the  watchful  troopers,  per 
ceiving  the  turmoil  and  bubbling  in  the  water,  would 
spur  their  horses  to  the  bank,  and  drive  the  fleeing 
Indians  again  into  the  channel.  They  would  not 
capitulate ;  neither  did  they  seem  to  tire.  So  ob 
stinate  were  they,  that  midnight  came,  and  not  one 
of  them  submitted.  At  that  time  they  had  passed 
fourteen  hours  in  the  water,  and  not  one  brave  had 
yielded.  Finally,  one  too  tired  longer  to  continue 
the  struggle,  surrendered,  and  at  break  of  day,  fifty 
had  given  up  the  fight.  Others  yielded  for  a  mo 
ment,  but  returned  again  to  the  middle  of  the  lake, 
and  then  once  more  yielded  through  love  of  life. 
At  ten  o'clock  slowly  and  reluctantly  two  hundred 
surrendered  themselves  after  having  been  swimming 
in  the  water  four  and  twenty  hours.  They  were 
in  wretched  condition,  swollen  with  the  water  they 
had  swallowed,  overcome  with  fatigue,  hunger  and 
want  of  sleep. 

As  the  Spaniards  looked  across  the  face  of  the 
little  lake,  there  were  yet  seven  who  had  not  sur 
rendered,  seven  men  of  unconquerable  spirit,  un 
moved  either  by  the  beseechings  of  the  interpreter 
or  the  promises  of  the  Governor.  Even  the  example 
of  their  comrades  who  surrendered  had  no  effect  on 
them.  They  simply  treated  all  promises  with  scorn 
and  defied  both  menaces  and  death.  In  this  way 
they  remained  until  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  Governor  moved  with  admiration  at  the 
men's  courage  and  endurance,  said:  "Such  men 
shall  not  perish."  He  therefore  ordered  twelve 
Spaniards,  expert  swimmers,  to  go  into  the  lake 


76  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

with  their  swords  in  their  mouths,  and  draw  the 
seven  warriors  forth.  The  white  swimmers  quickly 
plunged  into  the  lake  as  directed,  seized  the  Indians, 
now  too  exhausted  to  resist,  and  drew  them  to  the 
land,  where  they  lay  extended  on  the  bank  more 
dead  than  alive,  having,  according  to  the  Spanish 
narrator,  been  for  thirty  hours  in  the  water,  ap 
parently  without  putting  foot  to  the  ground,  or 
receiving  any  other  relief.  With  the  landing  of 
the  seven  obstinate  braves  the  battle  ended  and  the 
night  closed  upon  the  scene. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
"THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES." 

The  valiant  de  Soto  sat  in  state,  arrayed  as  best 
he  could  to  awe  the  Indian  captives.  By  his  side 
sat  the  leaders  of  the  Spanish  force,  and  grouped 
about  them  were  the  bravest  soldiers  of  the  ex 
pedition.  This  was  no  review  of  troops  as  was  to 
be  the  ill-starred  exhibition  of  the  day  before.  It 
was  a  court  scene  in  which  the  conqueror  called 
the  vanquished  foe  before  him.  To  the  beaten  In 
dians  it  seemed  the  hour  of  execution.  The  Gov 
ernor's  face  shone  with  apparent  anger.  Four 
of  the  Indian  leaders,  those  of  the  seven,  who 
desperately  resisted  in  the  lake  were  brought  be 
fore  him.  They  were  young  men,  in  the  prime  of 
manhood,  chosen  captains  of  the  cacique  they  served, 
and  their  acts  and  bearing  justified  the  choice. 

To  these  four  men  de  Soto  spoke  in  thundering 
tones,  translated  by  Ortiz :  "Wherefore  did  you  not 
surrender  yesterday,  as  your  comrades  had  done? 
Why  were  you  so  obstinate  and  foolishly  hostile  to 
the  last  degree?  The  white  men  had  you  in  their 
power.  They  could  have  made  for  you  a  grave  in 
yonder  lake,  or  even  now  we  have  it  in  our  power 
to  kill  you  and  throw  your  bodies  to  our  dogs." 

The  savage  warriors  replied  in  words  which 
breathed  the  spirit  of  their  mad  resistance:  "We,  O 
White  Chief,  are  called  to  be  examples  to  our 


78  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

children  and  teachers  of  our  brother  warriors.  Sur 
render  means  disgrace;  and  after  inglorious  defeat 
to  be  alive  suggests  that  we  have  failed  to  do  our 
duty.  We  would  vindicate  our  honor.  In  your 
kindness  you  spared  and  rescued  us,  when  we  were 
too  exhausted  further  to  resist.  Our  only  regret 
is,  you  did  not  suffer  us  to  perish  in  the  lake;  if 
you  would  show  us  -further  favors,  take  our  lives." 

The  Governor  listened  with  evident  admiration 
to  these  heroic  words  of  the  four  brave  men,  but 
answered  nothing.  He  wished  further  to  question 
the  remaining  three  who  had  so  long  contended  in 
the  lake.  These  three  men  were  sons  or  heirs  to 
the  cacique  of  the  adjacent  province. 

"And  why  did  you  young  men  thus  resist?"  asked 
de  Soto.  "You  are  not  bound  by  the  same  obliga 
tions  as  your  fellows,  for  your  allegiance  is  to  a 
neighboring  chieftain." 

The  three  replied,  they  had  entered  the  conflict 
merely  through  a  thirst  for  glory.  They  were  not 
chiefs,  but  some  day  would  be  such.  They  wished 
to  signalize  themselves  by  bravery  in  action,  and  by 
a  contempt  for  suffering  and  death.  "These,  O  Off 
spring  of  the  Sun,"  they  said,  "are  the  reasons  for 
our  obstinate  hostility :  if  they  are  sufficient  in  your 
eyes,  pardon  us ;  if  not,  we  are  at  your  mercy. 
Strike  us  dead,  for  nothing  is  prohibited  to  the  con 
queror." 

The  noble  spirit  and  courageous  words  of  these 
youths  charmed  the  Spaniards,  and  their  hearts  were 
softened.  The  Governor  himself  was  moved  to 
pity.  With  unconstrained  emotion  he  embraced  the 


"THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES"       79 

young  men  as  his  own  sons,  commended  their  valor 
and  heroic  endeavor. 

"This,"  he  said,  "is  evidence  of  your  noble  blood 
and  illustrious  descent."  Turning  to  Moscoso,  cap 
tain  of  the  camp,  he  said :  "We  shall  set  these  men 
free;  but  not  until  they  have  feasted  at  my  table, 
and  learned  the  most  genuine  hospitality  of  the 
knights  of  Spain.  When  we  have  finished  their  en 
tertainment  we  shall  send  them  home  again  laden 
with  our  choicest  gifts." 

Accordingly  these  youths  who  came  to  battle  not 
because  of  hatred  for  the  white  men,  were  sent  back 
home  after  two  days  of  sojourn  in  the  camp.  In 
their  arms  they  bore  the  tokens  of  de  Soto's  gener 
osity,  cloths,  silks,  mirrors,  and  other  articles  of 
Spanish  manufacture,  to  be  thenceforth  the  envy 
of  the  young  men  of  their  tribe.  The  four  captive 
leaders,  however,  those  of  the  tribe  of  Vitachuco, 
were  held  prisoners;  and  on  the  morrow,  as  com 
manded,  appeared  before  de  Soto  in  company  with 
their  cacique.  Most  severely  did  de  Soto  reproach 
them  for  their  treachery,  in  the  murderous  plot  de 
vised  against  him  and  his  soldiers. 

"Such  an  act,"  he  told  them,  "merited  death :  yet 
I  shall  pardon  even  you  who  deserve  to  die.  Inform 
your  people  of  my  mercy,  and  show  yourselves  wor 
thy  of  the  favor  shown  you." 

Then  the  men  were  set  free.  Vitachuco,  how 
ever,  remained  a  sort  of  prisoner  in  his  own  house ; 
yet  he  was  treated  with  the  greatest  kindness  and 
respect,  and  dined  at  the  Governor's  table.  The  In 
dians  who  left  the  lake  and  surrendered  themselves 


8o  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

were  distributed  among  the  Spaniards  to  serve  them 
as  menials,  during  their  sojourn  in  the  province. 
This  was  partly  as  a  punishment  for  their  partici 
pation  in  the  late  treason,  and  partly  as  an  example 
to  warn  the  neighboring  Indians  from  like  aggres 
sions. 

Thus  nine  hundred  of  Vitachuco's  most  noble, 
valiant  and  well-tried  warriors  were  dispersed 
among  the  Spaniards ;  and  as  he  saw  them  from  day 
to  day,  his  heart  conceived  another  scheme  of  ven 
geance.  These  Indian  slaves  in  camp  were  full  as 
many  as  their  Spanish  masters,  nine  hundred 
strong,  not  counting  the  numerous  women,  carried 
captive  along  the  way.  Some  of  the  more  powerful 
braves  were  chained  for  reasons  of  safety.  Some 
of  them,  however,  were  free,  but  under  certain  sim 
ple  restraints.  Vitachuco  himself  was  attended  by 
four  young  Indians  of  his  tribe,  who  served  him  as 
pages.  To  these  four  lieutenants  he  unbosomed  a 
plot  of  further  treachery  against  the  white  men  he 
so  much  hated.  He  showed  his  men  how  easy  it 
would  be,  at  meal-time,  when  they  waited  on  their 
masters,  to  rise  against  their  conquerors.  Then 
the  Spaniards  would  be  seated  and  off  their  guard; 
many  of  them  would  be  without  weapons.  Thus 
having  the  white  men  at  a  disadvantage,  the  savages, 
by  a  preconcerted  movement,  could  strike  a  signal 
blow  and  rid  themselves  at  once  of  their  oppres 
sions. 

From  that  moment  those  four  messengers  of  the 
wily  cacique  brought  the  principal  prisoners  into 
the  scheme.  Secretly  and  adroitly  the  word  was 


"THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES"       81 

passed  around  among  the  slaves  and  all  were  told 
to  hold  themselves  in  readiness,  and  at  the  appoint 
ed  time,  strike  the  blow,  and  this  time  strike  hard. 
It  was  the  same  device  as  was  planned  before.  Vita- 
chuco  would  be  with  the  Governor  at  dinner.  He 
would  watch  his  opportunity,  spring  upon  de  Soto, 
and  kill  him ;  giving  at  the  moment  of  assault  a  war- 
whoop  that  should  resound  throughout  the  camp. 
Then  every  Indian  should  grapple  with  his  master, 
or  with  any  Spaniards  at  hand,  and  dispatch  him 
on  the  spot.  So  the  hours  passed  and  the  Indians 
yet  were  slaves,  but  not  for  long  they  thought,  for 
"the  day  of  our  deliverance,"  they  said,  "will  soon 
come.  We  can  afford  to  wait." 

And  as  they  waited,  like  the  crouching  tiger,  pre 
pared  to  leap  upon  his  prey,  the  Indian  captives 
feigned  submissiveness.  Never  before  had  the 
slaves  who  waited  on  de  Soto  been  so  passive.  Mos- 
coso  and  Anasco  both  told  how  well  their  orders 
were  obeyed  by  the  simple  children  of  the  forest. 
Ortiz  and  de  Leon,  all,  could  testify  to  the  strict 
obedience  of  the  conquered  tribesmen;  but  it  was 
simply  the  calm  before  the  coming  storm.  With 
Rodrique  Gomez  it  mattered  not  whether  the  re 
cently  captured  braves  were  calm  or  full  of  discord. 
He  had  his  Ulia,  his  faithful  slave,  who,  obedient 
woman  that  she  was,  fondly  waited  on  him  hand 
and  foot ;  and  so  the  other  slaves  might  start  an  in 
surrection,  and  little  did  he  care  for  trouble  in  an 
other  soldier's  tent.  Ortiz  alone  wondered  at  the 
remarkable  peacefulness  of  the  tribe,  so  recently 
subdued. 


82  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"I  do  not  altogether  understand  it,"  he  volun 
teered  to  Juan  de  Leon  the  afternoon  of  that  day, 
when  the  dread  blow  was  to  be  given.  "This  is 
not  Indian  nature,  as  I  have  seen  it,  during  my  eight 
years'  living  in  the  savage  wigwams." 

"You  look  somewhat  troubled,  Ortiz.  What's  on 
your  mind?"  queried  de  Leon.  "Perhaps  you  are 
in  love.  Say,  do  you  ever  think  of  that  copper- 
colored  maiden,  Ticitia,  who  saved  your  life  so 
many  times,  bathed  your  wounds,  and  covered  you 
from  the  cold  and  the  hatred  of  her  father,  the  un 
forgiving  Hirrihigua  ?" 

De  Leon  didn't  know  but  that  Juan  Ortiz's  heart 
did  lie  twenty  leagues  or  more  backward  upon  their 
trail.  Other  white  men  had  found  their  wives 
among  the  Indian  women.  So  he  pushed  his  ques 
tion  further  home. 

"Tell  me,  Ortiz,  can't  I  stand  with  you  at  your 
wedding,  assist  you  when  one  of  our  good  fathers 
says  the  words  that  make  you  man  and  wife,  and 
thus  bridge  the  chasm  between  the  hostility  of  the 
white  men  and  the  red?" 

Ortiz  answered  nothing.  He  smiled  and  simply 
said,  "Ticitia  is  worthy  of  the  noblest  man,  white, 
red,  or  any  color;  but,  listen  to  my  thoughts,"  he 
said,  suddenly  changing  the  conversation  again.  "I 
don't  like  the  way  these  nine  hundred  warriors  of 
Vitachuco  act.  They  are  too  ready  to  be  slaves,  and 
any  full-brained  student  of  the  Indian  knows  that's 
not  like  the  man  of  the  forest.  He's  born  in  free 
dom.  He  will  be  free.  He'd  rather  die  than  lose 
his  freedom ;  for  death,  he  thinks,  will  set  him  free, 


"THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES"       83 

and  place  him  in  the  happy  hunting  grounds  where 
he  can  roam  at  will  in  unbridled  liberty  and  life 
eternal.  De  Leon,  you  have  told  me  of  your  Leon 
ora.  Willingly  you  have  come  away  from  those 
lands  where  her  people  and  yours  now  dwell.  But 
suppose  you  had  been  torn  from  your  loved  ones 
and  your  lover.  Picture  a  strange  nation  marching 
to  your  father's  shores,  taking  the  strong  men  cap 
tive,  carrying  you  away,  and  stealing  the  beautiful 
Leonora,  with  other  girls  to  serve  at  the  table  of 
foreign  masters,  set  in  order  their  rooms,  cook 
their  meals  and  make  their  beds.  What  would  you 
do  ?  How  would  you  feel  ?  Would  you  smile  upon 
that  conquering  nation,  and  count  them  masters  to 
be  obeyed  at  once,  and  eyed  with  manifest  de 
light?"' 

Again  the  face  and  form  of  Leonora  was  before 
Juan  de  Leon.  He  pictured  her  in  Spain ;  at  Se 
ville,  in  his  early  play  ground,  where  they  romped 
together ;  at  San  Lucar  he  saw  her,  when  the  ships 
of  de  Soto  sailed ;  along  the  rocky  shores  of  Go- 
mera  they  walked  arm  in  arm.  In  Cuba  he  seemed 
to  see  her,  and  then  he  asked  himself  the  question, 
"Is  Leonora  still  in  that  island  of  the  Western 
ocean?  Perhaps  she  has  returned  to  her  home  in 
Spain."  Rousing  himself  from  the  homesick  mood 
which  enshrouded  him  he  said,  "Ortiz,  let's  see. 
How  long  have  we  Spaniards  been  at  this  business 
of  running  down  Indians  in  Florida?  Looking  for 
gold!  Oh,  yes,  we're  looking  for  gold.  But  these 
skulking  tribes  make  us  forget  why  we  came  to  this 
land  of  swamps  and  troubles.  But,  let  me  answer 


84  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

my  own  question.  I  asked  you  how  long  have  we 
been  chasing  Redskins,  and  hearing  them  tell  us, 
if  we  want  gold  we  can  find  it,  'just  beyond/  not 
in  their  territory.  How  long?  Seven  full  months 
it  is  now,  since  we  bade  good  bye  to  Cuba ;  seven 
months  since,  I  say,  we  left  the  Havana  harbor. 
Surely  Tachuco  now  has  full  sway.  I  think  I  hear 
him  laughing  at  us  as  we  pass.  He  seems  to  move 
as  we  advance,  and  passes  as  an  emissary  of  the 
evil  one,  from  tribe  to  tribe,  bidding  the  Indians 
send  us  on  our  way  with  those  words,  'gold  is  not 
here  in  our  land.  It  is  just  beyond.'  No,  Ortiz,  if 
I  were  to  send  a  message  home,  it  would  be  this, 
'We  have  found  no  gold ;  but  have  found  other 
things,  trouble  and  trials,  and,  well,  this  certainly 
would  startle  them,  we  have  found  nine  hundred 
slaves.' ' 

"Careful,  de  Leon,"  said  Ortiz,  ''perhaps  the  Gov 
ernor  is  listening.  He  will  say  your  words  sound 
like  rebellion." 

"No,  Ortiz,  I  do  not  rebel.  I  shall  be  loyal  to  the 
last.  I  was  only  thinking  aloud,  when  you,  my  good 
friend,  are  near.  But  now  I  see  I  have  wandered 
from  the  track  of  the  conversation,  which  a  mo 
ment  ago  you  began  so  wisely.  Yes,  it  does  seem 
strange  that  these  nine  hundred  sun-burned,  stal 
wart  fighting  men  of  this  land  should  turn  them 
selves  so  suddenly,  completely  and  cheerfully  into 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water.  In  sooth, 
they  have  become  glad-hearted  slaves." 

The  plotting  Vitachuco  knew  the  reason  why  the 
slaves  were  so  submissive:  and  the  hour  had  come 


"THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES"       85 

when  the  Spaniards  also  were  to  learn  the  cause  of 
such  remarkable  subjection.  The  Cacique  dined 
that  day  as  usual  at  the  Governor's  table.  The 
meal  was  nearly  ended.  The  Chief  straightened 
himself  upon  the  bench  whereon  he  sat.  Twisting 
his  body  from  side  to  side,  stretching  first  one  arm, 
then  the  other,  to  the  full  extent,  with  clenched 
fists,  then  raising  his  arms  in  such  a  way  that  his 
fists  rested  on  his  shoulders,  he  jerked  them  out  two 
or  three  times,  until  every  joint  cracked  like  a 
snapped  reed.  In  this  way  the  Indians  of  Florida 
were  accustomed  to  rally  their  strength  for  any  ex 
traordinary  feat.  Thus  Vitachuco  prepared  himself 
as  he  sat  at  de  Soto's  table.  Then  suddenly  he 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  madly  closed  with  the  Gov 
ernor.  With  the  left  hand,  he  seized  the  white  man 
by  the  collar,  and  with  the  other  hand,  clenched, 
dealt  him  a  stinging  blow  full  in  the  face.  The 
Governor  fell ;  and  as  he  lay  bruised  and  bleeding, 
the  Indian,  savage-like,  threw  himself  upon  his  vic 
tim,  thinking  to  finish  his  work,  giving  at  the  same 
time  the  signal  war-whoop.  The  whole  camp  was 
aroused.  The  officers  nearest  to  their  leader  reached 
^iis  senseless  body,  as  the  ferocious  cacique  had 
aimed  the  fatal  blow.  They  drew  their  swords,  and 
with  them  smote  the  unrelenting  chieftain,  the  man 
who  knew  not  mercy  or  forgiveness,  the  subtle  Vi 
tachuco,  and  the  savage  fell  never  to  rise  again. 
But  the  fatal  war-whoop  sounded  from  the  lips  of 
the  Chief,  now  dead,  was  caught  up  by  a  hundred 
waiting  Indians,  impatient  for  the  fatal  signal. 
These  Indian  slaves  assailed  their  masters,  seizing 


86  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

whatever  weapon  they  might  perchance  obtain. 
Some  fought  with  pikes  and  swords,  the  weapons 
laid  aside  by  the  cavaliers ;  others  grasped  the  pots 
in  which  the  meat  was  stewing  at  the  fire,  and  thus 
armed  beat  the  Spaniards  about  the  head,  bruising 
and  scalding  them  at  the  same  time;  some  savages 
caught  up  plates,  pitchers,  jars,  and  pestles  where 
with  they  pounded  the  maize,  and  with  these  utensils 
of  peace  pounded  their  foreign  masters ;  others  took 
the  bones  remaining  from  the  repast ;  and  others  lay 
hold  of  the  stools,  benches  and  tables,  striking  with 
impotent  fury  when  their  weapons  had  not  the  pow 
er  to  harm ;  still  others  snatched  up  burning  fire 
brands,  and  rushed  like  incarnate  fiends  to  burn  and 
destroy. 

Thus  many  of  the  cavaliers  were  bruised,  burned 
or  scalded ;  and  some  were  killed.  Dozens  carried 
scars  for  many  days,  and  others  were  maimed  for 
life.  De  Soto  himself  was  frightfully  disfigured. 
So  the  battle  raged,  like  a  domestic  brawl,  fused 
with  rage;  not  like  a  battle  in  the  open  field,  be 
tween  opposing  armies.  Finally  the  revolt  was 
quelled,  and  the  Spaniards  exasperated  at  the 
wounds  thus  treacherously  inflicted  at  first  were 
moved  to  vent  their  rage  on  every  Indian  in  their 
power ;  but  wiser  counsels  prevailed.  They  brought 
their  prisoners  to  the  grand  square  of  the  village, 
and  delivered  them  into  the  hands  of  the  archers  of 
the  general's  guard,  who  dispatched  them  with  their 
halberts.  Among  the  cavaliers  who  thus  brought 
their  slaves  to  be  executed,  so  the  historian  records, 
was  one  of  small  and  delicate  form,  named  Fran- 


"THE  REVOLT  OF  THE  SLAVES"        87 

cisco  de  Soldan.  He  entered  the  square  trailing 
after  him  a  powerful  Indian,  led  by  a  cord  tied 
around  his  neck.  No  sooner  did  the  savage  per 
ceive  the  white  man's  purpose  and  the  fate  that  in 
the  square  awaited  him,  than  instantly  he  closed  up 
on  Saladan  as  he  walked  before  him.  He  seized 
him  with  one  hand  about  the  neck,  and  with  the 
other  grasped  his  thigh,  raised  him  like  a  child, 
turned  him  head-downwards,  dashed  him  to  the 
ground  and  stunned  him.  Jumping  then  upon  his 
body  he  would  have  slain  him  in  an  instant  had  not 
a  number  of  Spaniards  rushed  with  drawn  swords 
and  rescued  their  comrade.  The  Indian  then  seized 
Saladan's  sword  and  received  the  cavaliers  so 
bravely  that,  though  they  numbered  more  than  fifty, 
he  kept  them  all  at  bay.  Grasping  the  sword  with 
both  hands  he  threw  himself  among  them,  whirling 
about,  dealing  his  blows  so  rapidly  and  madly  that 
no  one  dared  oppose  him.  Whereupon  they  were 
obliged  to  shoot  him  down  with  their  fire  arms.  This 
suppressed  revolt  ended  a  contest  in  which  there  fell 
Vitachuco  and  thirteen  hundred  of  his  warriors, 
"the  flower  of  his  nation,"  among  whom  were  the 
four  brave  leaders  who  had  survived  in  wonderful 
endurance  the  terrors  of  the  lake." 


CHAPTER  IX. 
"THE  CALL  OF  THE  MORE  FRIENDLY  COAST." 

The  call  of  the  white  man  for  his  home,  and  the 
call  of  the  sailor  for  the  sea,  had  come.  Summer 
and  fall  had  passed,  and  the  winter  was  at  hand ; 
yet  the  Spaniards  found  no  gold.  Apalachen,  far 
famed  and  much  heralded  as  the  land  of  the  prec 
ious  metal,  had  deceived  them  as  it  had  Narvaez, 
before  their  coming.  Their  provisions,  brought 
with  them  from  the  coast,  had  been  exhausted,  and 
the  country  through  which  they  passed  afforded  but 
little  for  their  sustenance.  Thus  the  more  friendly 
sea  coast  called  them  to  turn  back ;  and  they  there 
fore  returned  to  the  sea  as  a  refuge  for  the  ap 
proaching  winter. 

Along  the  way  de  Soto  urged  his  followers  to 
greater  courage.  "Some  of  my  men,"  he  said,  "have 
hearts  of  women,  good,  but  timid  in  face  of  danger. 
My  ears  have  not  been  stopped,  nor  have  my  eyes 
been  bound.  We  have  seen  struggles,  and  there  are 
yet  trials  in  store  for  our  company ;  but  I  shall  not 
leave  this  new-found  land ;  until  I  have  faced  every 
danger  in  our  pathway.  Come,  be  men.  We  shall 
winter  on  the  coast,  then  with  the  approach  of 
Spring,  depart  inland  once  more." 

So  their  first  winter  was  spent  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Apalachen  Bay,  and  the  point  where  Nar 
vaez  had  built  his  boats  and,  whence  he  had  started 


THE  CALL  OF  THE  COAST  89 

on  his  fatal  voyage.  Communication  was  held  with 
Cuba ;  arrangements  were  made  for  future  supply 
of  provisions,  and  twenty  Indian  women  were  sent 
as  slaves  to  Dona  Isabel,  de  Soto's  wife,  as  an  earn 
est  of  good  things  to  come.  With  the  ships  which 
bore  these  so-called  tokens  of  a  prosperous  expedi 
tion  there  sailed  several  members  of  the  exploring 
army.  Among  them  was  Juan  de  Leon,  who  went 
on  business  for  his  commander;  but  also  in  his 
heart  there  lurked  sad  regrets,  mingled  with  hope 
of  seeing  her  once  more  whose  vision  had  so  often 
come  to  charm  him  in  the  wilds  of  Florida.  He 
would  tell  Leonora  how  in  spirit  she  had  been  with 
him,  how  thus,  in  fancy,  he  had  told  her  of  his  sor 
row  for  his  seeming  neglect  before  the  party  left 
Cuba.  He  would  free  his  mind  of  all  suspicion  and 
suspense  concerning  her  he  loved.  He  asked  him 
self,  "Has  she  returned  to  Spain?  If,  yet  in  Cuba, 
how  is  her  time  spent?  Who  are  her  friends? 
What  are  her  plans?" 

The  sail  from  the  mainland  to  the  island,  where 
his  expectations  lay,  was  one  long  voyage  of  con 
jecture  and  sometimes  fear.  He  seemed  to  think 
all  was  not  well.  Havana  harbor  was  now  sighted. 
The  landing  was  effected.  Messages  of  greeting 
were  borne  to  the  Adelantado's  wife,  and  the  officials 
of  the  city.  The  gifts  also  were  presented,  among 
them  the  twenty  slaves,  who  wandered  like  lost 
souls,  looking  for  some  familiar  habitation  and 
found  it  not.  Diego  de  Soto,  a  kinsman  of  the  Gov 
ernor,  also  sailed  on  the  ship ;  and  with  de  Leon 
acted  for  the  Adelantado  in  greeting  Isabel,  making 


90  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  gifts,  and  attending  to  the  business  of  the  er 
rands  for  which  they  came.  Diego  de  Soto  found 
the  faithful  Isabel  patient  in  the  absence  of  her  hon 
ored  lord. 

"How  is  Fernando?  Tell  me,  Diego.  Tell  me, 
Juan  de  Leon.  How  soon  will  he  come  back  to  me 
again?  These  days  have  been  weary  ones;  but 
then,  I  suppose,  men  must  be  men  and  fight,  and 
those  who  have  gold  must  search  for  more.  Our 
noble  Spanish  cavaliers  will  not  be  content  at  home. 
They  hear  the  call  to  go  beyond  the  good  land  of 
their  birth  and  training." 

"The  call  to  go  beyond,  my  gracious  lady,  seems 
growing  louder  in  the  wilds  of  yonder  Florida," 
said  Juan  de  Leon  impulsively.  "The  gold  we  seek 
is  ever  somewhere  'beyond.'  One  Indian  tribe  tells 
us  it  is  not  in  their  land ;  but  'beyond'  on  the  prov 
ince -of  some  distant  tribe.  Beyond,  beyond;  and 
so  your  intrepid  lord  leads  us  on.  For  the  winter  we 
tarry  on  the  sea  coast;  but  with  the  Spring  which 
will  soon  be  upon  us,  we  shall  plunge  once  more 
inland  and  the  forests  will  close  upon  us ;  but — tell 
me — is  Leonora  de  Hardline  in  your  household 
still  ?  I  remember  you  took  her  to  your  home  when 
the  daughter  of  Count  Gomera  left  your  care." 

"Yes,  de  Leon,"  answered  Isabel,  "the  daughter 
of  Gomera  now,  wife  of  Louis  de  Anasco  has  re 
turned  to  her  father's  home  in  the  Canary  Islands. 
Your  Leonora,  as  you  know  we  called  your  maid 
of  Seville,  has  also  left  me.  I  had  counted  on  her 
company.  You  saw  us  together  when  the  Christoval 
left  for  Florida.  Our  hands  were  the  last  to  wave 


THE  CALL  OF  THE  COAST  91 

farewell,  and  we  waved  in  sympathy.  After  you 
were  out  of  sight,  we  found  sweet  consolation  in 
each  other's  companionship.  But  she,  too,  is  gone." 

"Gone,"  gasped  de  Leon,  "gone?  Tell  me, 
whither,  and  I  shall  go  at  once,  and  find  her." 

"Stay,"  said  the  stately  woman.  "I  know  not 
where  Leonora  went.  Let  me  tell  you  all." 

Juan  was  now  beside  himself.  "Gone,"  he  mut 
tered,  "Leonora  gone.  What  does  all  this  mean? 
Is  she  dead,  and  was  that  vision  simply  her  de 
parted  soul,  communing  with  the  living?  How 
strange !" 

"Stay,  Juan,  I  will  speak  of  her  departure  as  I 
know  it.  It  made  me  sad,  surprised  me,  and  still 
I  understand  it  not." 

Juan,  now  began  to  think  of  brigands,  kidnap 
pers,  murderers.  Perhaps  the  black  slaves  of  Cuba 
had  arisen,  as  did  their  Indian  brothers  in  the  land 
of  Vitachuco.  He  would  give  his  life  to  find  her. 
He  would  go  at  once.  Why  did  not  Isabel  in  a 
word  clear  the  mystery  of  his  lover's  disappear 
ance.  Calming  himself  he  said:  "I  wait  to  hear  the 
story.  Tell  me,  I  pray,  where  she  went,  and  how 
she  went  and  why  she  left  your  kindly  protection, 
she,  thus  alone." 

"But,  Juan,  she  was  not  alone." 

Again  de  Leon  was  puzzled.  This  time  he  was 
not  only  perplexed;  but  distressed  at  heart. 

"Leonora  gone,  and  gone  with  some  other  man  ?" 
he  gasped.  "Well,  if  such  is  the  situation,  between 
us,  as  lovers  the  affair  is  ended.  Diego,  let's  go 
back  to  Florida  as  fast  as  possible  and  look  for 


9a  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

gold.  Then  let  the  Indians  stand  aside,  and  be 
our  slaves,  both  women  and  men." 

Isabel  knew  Juan  well  enough,  thus  to  keep  him 
in  suspense.  The  voyage  from  Spain,  the  stay  at 
the  Canary  Islands,  had  served  to  make  the  mem 
bers  of  de  Soto's  party  throw  aside  mere  conven 
tionalities,  and,  even,  at  times  indulge  in  teasing 
conversation.  But,  Isabel,  now  was  in  real  earnest, 
and  her  words  conveyed  her  meaning. 

"Juan  de  Leon,  I  speak  plainly,  not  in  jest.  Leo 
nora,  your  Leonora  has  gone.  Two  months  ago 
there  came  from  Spain  an  aged  man,  attended  by  a 
girl  of  Leonora's  age.  It  may  have  been  a  kins 
man,  I  cannot  say;  although  Leonora  tried  to  tell 
me;  but  it  was  all  so  quickly  done;  and  so  much 
has  happened  in  my  life  these  days,  that  I  am  not 
responsible  for  what  I  hear;  and  sometimes  I  fear 
I  am  not  responsible  for  what  I  say.  This,  then, 
is  the  tale  you  are  to  hear.  All  Havana  has  learned 
it,  too.  Leonora  departed  with  this  old  man  and 
his  daughter.  She  bade  me  good-by ;  but  at  the 
time  I  was  so  engrossed  with  my  troubles  from  that 
villain  Hernan  Ponce,  that  all  I  heard  was  'good- 
by,  my  beloved  Dona  Isabel/  and  all  I  could  say 
was  'farewell,  my  dear  girl,  I  wish  you  wouldn't 

go/  " 

"But,  to  what  land  did  they  go?  Or,  did  they 
simply  leave  Havana  and  settle  elsewhere  in  the 
island  ?" 

"No,"  said  the  woman  thoughtfully,  "they  did  not 
stay  in  Cuba;  but  sailed  away,  somewhere,  I  know 
not  the  direction.  Two  ships  left  port  that  day. 


THE  CALL  OF  THE  COAST  93 

This  I  learned  afterward,  when  I  sent  out  an  alarm 
to  learn  the  facts,  which  the  day  before,  had  es 
caped  me,  because  of  my  financial  difficulties.  There 
were  two  ships  which  sailed,  one  to  Spain  and  one 
to  Mexico.  Leonora  and  her  companions  may  have 
taken  either  of  these.  I  could  not  learn  her  pur 
posed  destination.  Since  her  departure — and  it  is 
now  two  months — it  is  as  though  the  grave  had 
closed  upon  her.  But  this  sort  of  mystery  has 
fallen  to  my  lot.  In  like  manner,  when  the  fleet 
sailed  Westward,  and  carried  to  the  mainland,  all 
that  I  count  dear,  my  Ferdinand;  and  when  the 
dark  horizon  rolled  above  your  sailing  army,  it 
seemed  as  though  him  whom  I  love,  had  disappeared 
forever.  The  messages  which  you  bring  soothe  me  ; 
but  they  do  not  satisfy  as  would  his  own  kindly 
presence.  When  you  return  tell  him  not  to  stay 
away  too  long;  but  come  back,  come  back  soon. 
I  await  his  coming." 

"Tell  me,"  interrupted  Diego,  "tell  me  of  your 
trouble  with  Hernan  Ponce.  Ferdinand  must  needs 
know  of  such  affairs.  I  supposed  we  had  forever 
squelched  the  meanness  of  that  man  Ponce.  It  was 
I,  you  remember,  who  first  told  Ferdinand  of  the 
coming  of  that  ship,  which,  tempest-tossed,  was 
forced  to  make  the  harbor  of  Havana.  The  crafty 
fellow  did  not  want  to  land.  The  captain  of  the 
vessel  told  me  so.  Hernan  Ponce  knew  the  partner 
ship,  he  made  with  the  Adelantado  years  before, 
was  still  binding.  He  feared  he  might  be  called 
upon  to  share  his  gold,  silver,  jewels  and  precious 
stones,  which  were  his,  but  also  according  to  con- 


94  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

tract,  part  of  your  lord's  possessions.  So  Reman 
Ponce,  that  stormy  afternoon,  wished  the  ship  to 
pass  the  port,  and  go  direct  to  Spain;  but  the  very 
sea  was  set  against  his  grasping  soul." 

"I,  too,  remember  the  man,"  said  de  Leon,  join 
ing  in  invective  against  de  Soto's  faithless  partner. 
"I  was  with  the  guard,  which  seized  the  coffers, 
when  Ponce  concealed  them  on  shore,  that  night, 
thus  hiding  all  appearance  of  his  stores  of  wealth. 
How  crestfallen  was  his  face,  when  he  held  before 
him  his  beloved  treasure,  so  faultily  possessed.  I 
see  him  now,  in  imagination,  as  he  listens  unwilling 
ly  to  the  Governor's  indignant  words,  as  he  re 
proached  him  for  his  dissimulation  and  attempted 
escape  with  money  which  was  not  all  his.  But, 
then,  I  supposed  the  matter  had  been  finally  settled, 
that  Ponce  was  to  share  with  the  other,  all  worldly 
possessions,  as  before  had  been  agreed." 

"Yes,  Juan,  affairs  were  apparently  settled,"  ex 
plained  the  Governor's  wife.  "Ten  thousand  dol 
lars  was  paid  into  my  hands  as  Ponce's  settlement, 
the  articles  of  co-operation  were  renewed,  and  dur 
ing  his  stay,  Hernan  Ponce  was  always  addressed 
as  his  Excellency,  and  received  the  same  personal 
honors  as  the  Governor ;  but — believe  me — the  heart 
of  Hernan  Ponce  rests  always  with  his  money  bags, 
and  delights  not  in  what  he  esteems  mere  empty 
honors.  Under  various  pretexts,  he  deferred  sail 
ing  for  Spain  until  after  the  departure  of  my  lord 
and  his  army  for  Florida.  Then  eight  days  after 
the  Governor  had  sailed,  when  there  was  no  likeli 
hood  of  his  prompt  return,  Hernan  Ponce  addressed 


THE  CALL  OF  THE  COAST  95 

an  instrument  in  writing  to  Juan  De  Rojas,  the 
lieutenant-governor,  declaring  that  the  ten  thousand 
dollars  given  to  my  honest  Ferdinand  had  not  been 
paid  as  a  just  debt,  but  extorted  through  fear  lest 
he  should  make  use  of  his  power  to  strip  him  of 
all  his  property.  He  begged,  therefore,  that  I 
should  be  compelled  to  refund  the  money,  other 
wise  he  would  complain  to  the  Emperor  of  the  in 
justice  with  which  he  had  been  treated." 

"Surely  this  made  troublesome  times  for  you," 
said  Diego  in  sympathy;  "but,  tell  us,  how  did  you 
meet  this  unjust  accusation  and  claim?" 

"I  replied,"  answered  the  wife  of  the  Governor, 
"I  replied,  that  there  were  many  accounts  both  new 
and  old  to  be  settled  between  Hernan  Ponce  and 
my  husband,  as  would  be  seen  by  their  writings  of 
co-partnership.  I  told  how  Hernan  Ponce  now 
owed  Ferdinand  more  than  fifty  thousand  ducats, 
as  half  of  the  amount  expended  in  the  outfit  for 
the  conquest.  I  accordingly  demanded  that  the 
man  be  at  once  arrested  and  held  in  safety  until 
all  these  accounts  could  be  examined  and  adjusted, 
to  which,  I  offered  immediately  to  attend  in  the 
name  of  my  absent  husband.  Then  the  wily  Her 
nan  scenting  trouble  for  himself,  and  fearing,  should 
he  fall  into  the  hands  of  justice,  he  would  meet  but 
little  mercy,  hoisted  sail  before  the  harpies  of  the 
law  could  get  hold  of  him,  and  made  his  way  to 
Spain,  leaving  his  ten  thousand  dollars  and  all  the 
unsettled  accounts  in  my  hands." 

"Well  done,  Dona  Isabel,"  said  the  men  in 
unison.  "And  now  tell  me,"  said  de  Leon,  speak- 


96  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

ing  to  his  commander's  wife,  "tell  me  where  can 
I  find  Juan  de  Rojas,  lieutenant-governor?  Per 
haps  he  can  give  me  news  of  Leonora.  At  any 
rate  he  can  tell  me  of  the  ships  that  sailed  that 
day  she  disappeared." 

"I  verily  believe  your  thoughts  for  thirty  min 
utes  have  been  far  away.  In  fact,  since  I  told  you 
how  your  Leonora  had  vanished  all  consciousness 
of  what  has  been  said  among  us  here  since,  has 
vanished.  Your  mind  has  been  far  away,  where  I 
do  not  know,  nor  could  you  tell  how  far  you  wan 
dered.  But  I  sympathize  with  you.  For  these  long 
months  my  soul  has  traveled  far  away,  across  this 
little  harbor  to  Florida's  shores.  In  fond  imagina 
tion  I  have  followed  every  step  my  Ferdinand  took 
on  that  hostile  shore,  as  best  I  could;  and  I,  too, 
have  been  lost  in  thought,  these  many  months. 
When  you  go  back  and  join  those  cavaliers,  tell  my 
lord  not  to  keep  me  waiting  longer.  Tell  him  I 
will  come  to  him,  if  he  says  the  word." 

"I  shall  tell  him,  gracious  Lady;  and  now  an 
swer  my  question,  where  can  I  find  the  lieutenant- 
governor  to-day?" 

The  Governor's  wife  told  him  as  best  she  could, 
just  where,  that  day,  the  lieutenant-governor  could 
be  found,  and  de  Leon  sought  him.  In  the  garden 
of  his  handsome  residence  he  found  him.  Recog 
nizing  him  as  one  of  de  Soto's  party,  de  Rojas  rose 
to  meet  him. 

"De  Leon,"  he  said,  "I  heard  you  had  come,  and 
am  pleased  to  see  you  again.  How  fares  the  Gov 
ernor?  The  lady  he  left  behind  has  missed  him,  in 
fact — they  say — she  is  disconsolate." 


THE  CALL  OF  THE  COAST  97 

Then  Juan  told  him  of  the  experience  of  the 
army,  how  they  suffered,  how  they  fought,  how  they 
heard  that  gold  was  "just  beyond." 

"We  are  now  in  winter  quarters  on  the  coast, 
and  soon  after  the  ship's  return  from  Cuba,  we  shall 
march  inland  once  more.  I  shall  count  it  an  honor 
to  bring  the  Governor  some  message  from  his 
worthy  lieutenant." 

Then  Juan  fell  upon  the  subject  nearest  to  his 
heart,  the  missing  Leonora.  Rojas,  however,  could 
not  enlighten  him.  They  talked  of  the  ships  that 
sailed  that  day;  and,  as  Juan  learned  of  other  ves 
sels  that  stopped  at  that  port  and  went  their  way  to 
various  lands,  he  felt  the  mystery  deepen.  The 
men  then  talked  of  the  sway  of  Spain  in  the  West 
ern  World.  There  passed  in  quick  array  the  names 
of  former  Spanish  adventurers,  with  incidents  of 
their  work,  how  Balboa  reached  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
how  Ponce  de  Leon  sought  freshness  of  life  in 
Florida,  how  Pizarro  and  Cortez  were  still  more 
brilliant  instances  of  Spanish  energy.  More  in  de 
tail  they  talked  of  Cortez  and  the  rich  and  religious 
Aztecs  and  their  ancient  cities.  They  named  the 
natural  products  of  that  land,  brought  from  the 
mountain  forest  and  dug  from  the  rich  and  much- 
sought  mines,  the  silver  and  gold,  which  the  Span 
iards  so  eagerly  sought.  Thus,  Juan  de  Leon  learn 
ing  much  of  the  West  Indies,  Cuba,  Florida  and 
Mexico;  but  of  Leonora  there  came  not  the  slight 
est  news.  As  the  dejected  lover  left  the  lieutenant- 
governor's  home,  he  sighed :  "Gone,  gone.  Whither  ? 
Who  can  tell?" 


CHAPTER  X. 
"THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED." 

"Gold,  gold,  where  can  it  be  found?  This,  Bar- 
bidilla,  is  the  constant  question  of  our  countrymen." 
The  speaker  was  the  priest,  Father  Phillipe.  He 
and  the  charitable  Barbidilla  were  constant  com 
panions  and  incessant,  but  friendly,  disputants. 
They  had  left  the  company  of  their  brethren,  that 
day,  and  wandered  some  distance  from  camp.  Next 
morning  the  march  inland  was  to  begin,  and  the 
eternal  search  for  gold  would  be  resumed.  Father 
Phillipe  and  Barbidilla,  his  friend,  agreed,  and  yet 
disagreed.  Their  difference,  however,  was  mainly 
temperamental.  Phillipe  sought  righteousness  with 
great  severity;  Barbidilla  would  ever  "speak  the 
truth  in  love."  Barbidilla's  heart  had  gone  out  in 
deepest  sympathy  and  chagrin  for  the  poor  In 
dians  who  had,  that  winter,  perished  from  the  cold, 
scantily  covered  as  they  were,  and  bound  together 
with  chains  in  the  white  man's  camp,  where  they 
served;  but  Barbidilla  uttered  scarce  a  single  re 
proach.  Phillipe  stormed  at  the  sight  of  the  suf 
fering  savages. 

So  that  bright  spring  morning  the  two  advocates 
of  religion  sauntered  across  the  clearing  of  the  en 
campment,  and  entered  the  neighboring  woodland 
beyond. 

"I  hope,  brother,  our  cavaliers  will  find  some 


"THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED"      99 

gold  before  another  winter  comes  upon  us.  But 
gold  is  not  the  only  treasure  of  this  land.  Better 
would  it  be,  I  think,  for  us  to  settle  in  some  more 
favorable  spot  and  build  up  a  fixed  dwelling  place. 
From  such  a  center  those  who  so  desire  may  leave, 
to  scour  the  country  near  and  far  for  gold.  Thither 
they  can  retire,  like  the  tired  workman,  at  night 
and  find  some  place  of  refuge  and  good  cheer ;  but, 
I  fancy,  I  detect,  in  our  taciturn  commander,  the 
frenzy  of  a  man  whose  mind  is  firmly  fixed  to  find 
what  he  seeks  or,  die.  An  air  of  reckless  adventure 
and  abandonment  to  any  sensual  wish  assails  the 
Governor.  He  seems  to  foregt  the  home-land,  and 
his  fond  Isabel.  If  this  spirit  is  indulged  our  ex 
pedition  will  be  simply  a  mad  rush  through  a  vast 
wilderness,  without  profit,  without  increase  of 
knowledge  for  mankind,  without  interesting  discov 
ery,  without  successful  search  for  gold." 

Thus  the  two  friends  talked.  Barbidilla's  mind 
was  fixed  upon  uplifting  the  savage  of  the  forest. 
He  said :  "But,  Barbidilla,  I  sometimes  think  the 
denizens  of  these  roadless  wilds,  count  us  the  sav 
ages.  True,  we  have  endeavored  to  explain  to  them 
just  why  we  have  come  to  their  lands;  but  too 
often  our  knights  are  compelled  to  explain  in  terms 
of  war,  too  often  our  enslavement  of  their  women 
is  not  completely  understood.  Too  often  they  can 
not  solve  the  problem  why  our  cavaliers  did  not 
bring  their  own  women  from  Spain,  instead  of  rob 
bing  the  Indian  wigwams  of  their  fairest  maidens." 

"Phillipe,"  replied  his  companion,  "you  are  al 
ways  looking  for  the  'flies  in  the  ointment.'  I  sup- 


ioo  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

pose  the  only  answer  we  can  give  is,  all  these  im 
proprieties  are  necessary  and,  moreover,  natural, 
to  men  placed,  as  our  men  are,  in  such  circum 
stances." 

A  crackling  in  the  woods,  not  far  away,  told  of 
the  approach  of  some  one.  The  men  were  now  a 
mile  or  more  from  camp.  Who  could  this  be? 

"An  Indian,  Phillipe.  I  verily  believe.  Shall  we 
run  ?" 

Before  the  suggested  retreat  could  be  success 
fully  planned,  the  Indian  addressed  them.  He  used 
the  Spanish  tongue,  and  spoke,  in  half-broken  ac 
cents,  yet  with  marked  distinctness  and  complete 
understanding.  It  was  Tachuco ;  but  the  two  priests 
did  not  know  him.  They  had  sailed  on  another 
ship  from  Spain.  They  had  taken  no  interest  in 
his  escape  from  the  company,  at  their  first  landing 
on  the  shores  of  the  mainland.  They  had  not 
learned  from  Juan  de  Leon,  or  Ortiz,  of  the  white 
man's  suspicions,  that  this  wily  Indian  was  on  their 
trail,  to  set  the  tribes  against  them,  and  spread  the 
chosen  message  of  dissimulation,  "Gold  is  just  be 
yond." 

"I  perceive  you  are  priests,  not  fighting  men," 
the  savage  began.  "I  understand  your  calling,  and 
know  your  coming  to  my  land  is  in  desire  of  peace ; 
but,  tell  me,  can't  you  teach  your  Spanish  soldiers 
to  be  more  considerate  of  us,  who  own  this  land? 
Remember,  my  people  view  your  army  as  intruders. 
We  did  not  invite  you  to  come.  We  do  not  want 
you  here." 

"But,  my  red-skinned  brother,  this  land  belongs 


"THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED"    101 

to  Spain.  My  countrymen  have  discovered  it,"  said 
Barbidilla,  by  way  of  reply,  rather  than  defense. 

"Discovered  this  land,"  retorted  the  Indian.  "My 
land  did  not  need  to  be  discovered.  Whatever  else 
it  may  require,  it  wishes  not  what  you  call  discov 
ery ;  but  tell  me  of  your  men.  I  have  heard  of 
some  who  journey  with  you.  Is  Rodrique  Gomez 
yet  in  your  party  ?  Is  the  young  man  Juan  de  Leon 
still  serving  with  the  proud  de  Soto?  What  plans 
do  your  leaders  contemplate?" 

At  these  words  of  inquiry,  put  so  plainly,  the 
men  of  peace  were  silent  for  a  moment.  They  had 
learned  caution  in  the  clays  of  warring  and  nights 
of  vigil  through  which  they  had  passed.  They, 
therefore,  said:  "We  know  not  our  Governor's 
plans.  We  simply  follow  where  he  leads,  and  try 
to  help  the  people  of  your  tribe." 

"You  can't  help  us,"  replied  the  Indian.  "We, 
too,  have  our  religion.  We  reverence  certain  laws 
of  what  is  right,  and  anticipate  rewards  in  our 
happy  hunting  ground  in  the  world  beyond.  If  you 
want  to  help  my  people,  go  home  to  Spain,  and 
there  teach  your  cavaliers  how  to  plant  their  fields 
with  maize  and  how  to  live  at  peace  among  them 
selves." 

Turning  suddenly,  the  persistent  Tachuco  was 
gone,  as  quickly  as  he  came ;  but  as  he  disappeared, 
he  called  through  the  leafy  pathway:  "Tell  your 
discoverers,  there's  no  gold  within  a  thousand 
leagues  of  this  province.  It's  far  beyond,"  and  with 
a  sprightly  bound  the  son  of  the  forest  passed  from 
sight. 


102  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"Let  us  return  to  camp,"  said  Phillipe.  "If  we 
have  found  one  savage,  or  better,  if  one  savage  has 
found  us,  perhaps  we  might  be  discovered ;  yes, 
that's  a  good  word  in  this  connection.  Perhaps  we 
might  be  discovered  by  some  other  Indians,  and, 
who  can  tell,  whether  our  new  discoverers  will  be 
half  as  friendly  as  this  fellow  we  have  just  met. 
But  who  comes  now?  Ah,  I  see,  it  is  Ortiz.  I 
wish  he  had  come  sooner;  and  there  is  de  Leon. 
We  must  tell  them,  an  old  friend  has  just  men 
tioned  their  names.  The  Indian  spoke  of  Juan,  did 
he  not?" 

"Yes,  his  inquiry  was  concerning  de  Leon,  as  well 
as  Gomez;  but  let  us  ask  de  Leon,  if  he  knows  this 
Spanish-speaking  native.  What  shall  we  call  him? 
Let's  question  de  Leon.  It  seems  most  strange  to 
find  such  a  red  skin ;  still,  we  are  not  far  from  the 
coast.  He  may  have  been  in  Cuba  when  our  cav 
aliers  were  there,  just  before  we  sailed  for  Florida." 

The  priests  and  the  two  cavaliers  were  now  to 
gether.  The  recent  incident  of  their  conversation 
with  the  Spanish-speaking  Indian  was  told.  At 
hearing  it  de  Leon  hastened  forestward,  calling  on 
Ortiz  to  follow. 

"He  can't  be  far  away,  by  this  time.  Let  us  cap 
ture  him  and  bring  him  into  camp." 

"No,  my  good  de  Leon,  don't,"  said  the  priest, 
"the  Indian  is  fleet  of  foot,  and,  has  had  time  to 
reach  some  place  of  safety,  or  perhaps  has  joined 
some  band  of  savages,  who  simply  wait  their  chance 
to  thrust  you  with  a  dozen  arrows  and  take  your 
scalp.  Did  you  not  hear  what  recently  befel  the 


"THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED"    103 

five  halberdiers  of  the  General's  army,  who,  with 
the  two  soldiers,  sailed  forth  from  camp  without 
sufficient  armor?  Aguilar,  the  only  survivor  of 
those  seven  men,  still  tells  that  woeful  tale  of  un 
fair  conflict.  More  than  fifty  Indians  sprang  from 
the  thicket,  as  the  Spaniards  passed  heedlessly 
along;  and  with  agile  foot  leaped  madly  about  the 
unarmed  men,  like  so  many  demons.  With  horrible 
laughter  they  shot  them  down,  like  beasts,  de 
prived  of  opportunity  to  close  with  them." 

"Yes,"  responded  de  Leon  reflectively,  "the  Gov 
ernor  warned  us  only  yesterday  to  take  no  chances 
with  these  lurking  savages,  who  simply  wish  to 
allure  us  far  enough  away  from  the  army  to  get 
our  scalps.  Let's  all  return  to  camp.  Before  long 
we'll  be  on  our  way  once  more  inland." 

Quickly  after  the  wanderer's  return,  the  Span 
iards  broke  camp,  and  traveled  Westward.  Anasco, 
the  brave  Calderon,  Silvestre,  and  Gomez  Arias, 
leaders  of  the  Governor's  forces,  now  pushed  for 
ward  in  thorough  earnest,  a  united  army.  Many 
brave  deeds  marked  their  course.  Frequent  ex 
cursions  were  made  by  the  way,  for  de  Soto  sought 
more  friendly  passes  through  the  trackless  wilder 
ness.  Encountering  a  great  morass,  the  army, 
moved  only  by  reason  of  the  most  skillful  general 
ship,  and  dogged  perseverance.  The  friendly  Mu- 
cozo  alone  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  gave  them  his 
blessing  as  they  were  leaving  camp.  The  day  be 
fore  their  departure  he  came  and  wished  them  suc 
cess  and  safety  on  their  journey.  Many  presents 


io4  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

were  left  with  the  noble  cacique,  and  he  was  thus 
greatly  pleased. 

Progress  at  first  was  exceedingly  slow.  The 
scouting  and  study  of  the  most  favorable  line  of 
advance  for  the  cavaliers  and  their  horses  retarded 
rapid  travel.  Among  those  dispatched  on  trips  of 
reconnoitre  were  Ortiz  and  Juan  de  Leon. 

"We  are  not  far  from  my  former  haunts  in  the 
territory  of  Mucozo,"  Ortiz  remarked.  "I  know 
the  region  well.  Let's  draw  nearer  to  this  friendly 
province,  for  here  I  feel,  the  white  man  is  safe." 

They  had  not  gone  far,  when  marks  of  the  pres 
ence  of  two  Indians  were  discovered. 

"They  are  of  the  friendly  tribe,  I  think,"  said 
the  man  who  had  spent  so  many  years  among  that 
nation.  See  here  is  where  the  two  red  skins  trav 
eled  together,  and  from  their  tracks,  I  should  say, 
they  were  not  two  braves;  but  persons  on  a  peace 
ful  errand.  One  I  think  is  a  woman." 

"Beware  then,"  said  de  Leon.  "Don't  mix  in 
some  love  affair  or  interfere  between  man  and  wife. 
You  remember  how  that  company  of  cavaliers  fared 
last  week  when  they  met  that  Indian  couple.  The 
brave,  apparently  feared  injury  to  his  squaw  and, 
therefore,  attacked  the  entire  company  of  knights. 
At  first  the  Spaniards  did  not  take  the  man  seri 
ously  ;  but  before  many  seconds  they  found  he  was 
a  dangerous  enemy  to  meet,  and  in  order  to  save 
their  own  lives,  so  fiercely  did  he  fight,  they  were 
compelled  to  kill  him  in  his  tracks.  So  be  careful, 
Ortiz." 

"I  shall  be  careful,"  came  the  response.     "I  sim- 


"THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED"    105 

ply  said,  I  think  it  is  a  brave  and  his  lover.  Others 
seem  to  be  about;  but  the  man  and  woman  keep  at 
a  distance  from  the  rest." 

Two  Indian  guides  suddenly  came  into  view. 
Ortiz  saluted  them.  They  were  of  Mucozo's  na 
tion,  and  so  talked  freely. 

"Our  Cacique  is  resting  a  league  further  on," 
said  the  sentinel.  "There  you  can  see  him ;  but  you 
will  find  him  in  company  with  one  you  knew  some 
years  ago." 

Ortiz  and  de  Leon  hurried  on.  Off  the  beaten 
Indian  trail  they  saw  the  forms  of  two  persons, 
the  one  a  stalwart  Indian,  tall  and  noble  of  mien. 

"It  is  our  good  Mucozo,"  whispered  Ortiz.  "But, 
stop.  Who  is  that  person  by  his  side,  so  close,  as 
lovers  walk,  or,  like  you  and  Leonora,  of  whom 
you  have  told  me,  I  fancy,  Juan." 

"But,  who  is  the  clinging  maid,  Ortiz?  Hold 
back  a  little.  We  have  drawn  too  near.  Mucozo 
crushes  the  woman  to  his  breast.  Listen,  he  calls 
her  Ticitia." 

"Ah !  I  understand.  I  understand,"  said  Ortiz. 
"He  has  won  the  gracious,  good  and  tender  prin 
cess  at  last.  The  noble  woman,  freed  from  his 
father's  power  and  country,  now  dwells  where  her 
heart  has  been  for  many  days.  Mucozo  and  Ticitia, 
we,  your  white  friends  salute  you." 

Taken  by  surprise  the  man  and  the  woman 
turned.  At  first  the  Cacique  was  angry  at  the  in 
terruption.  His  attendants  should  have  guarded  the 
approach  of  strangers;  but  when  he  recognized  the 
voice  of  Ortiz,  both  he  and  his  betrothed  queen, 


io6  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

freely  expressed  their  pleasure.  Ortiz  and  Ticitia 
talked  of  the  white  man's  days  of  trial. 

"My  father's  death  has  made  it  possible  for  me 
to  join  Mucozo  and,  now,  I  am  his  bride-elect." 

The  interview  was  short.  Excusing  themselves 
the  white  men  withdrew,  and  returned  to  the  army. 
With  the  seekers  after  a  land  of  gold,  they  pushed 
forward.  Along  the  way,  they  took  to  themselves 
companions  in  the  persons  of  an  Indian  leader, 
Patofa,  and  four  thousand  of  his  men,  warriors 
fully  armed.  Their  purpose  in  accompanying  de 
Soto  was  afterward  apparent,  when  the  Governor 
found  his  allies  had  wreaked  vengeance  on  the  land 
and  subjects  of  a  neighboring  tribe,  through  whose 
country  they  passed.  For  years  Patofa  had  sought 
to  overthrow  his  hated  foes  and  when  the  Spaniards 
appeared,  he  saw  his  much-sought  opportunity. 
Thus  taking  advantage  of  the  presence  of  the  dar 
ing  cavaliers,  he  formed  alliance  with  the  white 
men  and  without  the  Adelantado's  knowledge  fell 
upon  his  enemies,  and  when  the  blow  was  struck, 
the  country  round  about  was  lined  with  bodies  of 
the  slain. 

Thus  the  procession  of  cavaliers,  slaves  and  four 
thousand  red  skins,  slowly  moved  forward  through 
the  wilderness,  the  savages  bent  on  revenge,  the 
Spaniards  seeking  gold.  The  Indians  and  the  white 
men  slept  in  separate  camps  by  night;  but  when 
the  day  began  they  joined  forces  and  proceeded  on 
their  way  in  manifest  peace.  In  fact,  in  manifold 
ways  Patofa  and  his  men  assisted  de  Soto  in  has 
tening  the  march;  and,  although  they  had  their 


"THE  ETERNAL  SEARCH  RESUMED"    107 

separate  sentinels  at  night,  this  show  of  caution  was 
simply  to  observe  the  practices  of  war. 

On  the  fourth  day  an  Indian  deserted.  The  Gov 
ernor  saw  him  quietly  steal  away.  It  was  at  the 
break  of  day  and,  he  had  passed  de  Soto's  tent, 
near  by  which  he  had  stood  on  guard.  Patofa  im 
mediately  sent  four  young  warriors  in  pursuit  of 
the  fugitive,  with  orders  to  bring  him  back  man 
acled.  Like  the  swift-footed  deer,  the  runners  set 
out,  and  soon  returned  bringing  the  man  a  prisoner. 
The  Cacique  ordered  him  to  be  led  to  the  banks  of 
a  small  stream  that  flowed  through  the  encamp 
ment.  De  Soto  followed  near  enough  to  learn  how 
the  red  man  disciplined  his  soldiers.  Here  the  de 
serter  was  stripped,  commanded  to  throw  himself 
upon  the  ground,  and  drink  the  streamlet  dry.  The 
poor  culprit  drank  until  he  could  drink  no  more, 
but  the  moment  he  raised  his  head  from  the  stream, 
five  Indians,  posted  over  him,  with  clubs,  belabored 
him  cruelly  until  he  resumed  his  task.  As  the  Gov 
ernor  drew  near,  two  Indians  approached.  In  lan 
guage  so  couched  that  the  Governor  could  under 
stand,  they  said:  "We  pray  the  Great  White  Chief 
that,  he  come  nearer  and  plead  with  Patofa  for  our 
brother." 

De  Soto  approached  and  found  the  man  half 
dead.  Moved  with  compassion  for  the  wretch  who 
would  be  compelled  to  drink  until  he  died,  de  Soto 
spoke  the  words  of  intercession  which  brought  the 
man's  release  and  pardon. 

They  were  now  nearing  an  Indian  village.  It 
was  the  long-wished-for  province  of  Cofachiqui. 


io8  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

There  by  night,  the  unforgiving  Patofa  wreaked  his 
vengeance  on  his  hated  foe.  For  miles  about,  he 
and  his  men  ravaged  the  country,  slew  its  people, 
men,  women  and  children,  and  burned  their  homes. 
When  de  Soto  received  word  of  this  cruel  act,  he 
made  all  haste  to  rid  himself  of  such  bloody  allies. 
Sending  to  Patofa,  he  thanked  him  for  his  valuable 
escort ;  and  giving  him  presents  of  knives,  trinkets, 
and  clothing,  for  himself  and  his  Cacique — for  Pa 
tofa  was  simply  a  subordinate — he  dismissed  the 
savage  and  his  four  thousand  braves. 

Passing  on  the  Spaniards  came  at  length  to  an 
other  village.  The  inhabitants  terrified  at  the 
strange  appearance  of  the  cavaliers  and  their  dash 
ing  horses,  betook  themselves  in  flight.  The  news 
of  the  coming  of  these  unusual  travelers  spread 
through  the  village.  Soon,  a  large  canoe  was 
launched  on  the  stream  nearby.  It  crossed  the 
river,  propelled  by  several  rowers  and,  in  it  sailed 
six  Indians,  men  of  most  noble  appearance.  The 
craft  drew  near  while  the  Governor  and  his  officers 
intently  awaited  its  coming. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
"COPPER,  NOT  GOLD." 

The  half  dozen  Indians  stepped  on  shore.  Evi 
dently  they  were  important  personages  in  their  tribe. 
As  became  their  rank  these  ambassadors  of  their 
sovereign — for  such  they  were — received  at  de 
Soto's  hands,  every  mark  of  respect.  The  chair 
of  state,  carried  by  the  Spaniards  for  such  occa 
sions,  was  brought  forth ;  and,  the  Governor  seated 
therein,  like  a  king  awaited  his  visitors.  As  they 
advanced,  they  saluted  thrice,  once  to  the  sun  with 
their  faces  Eastward,  second  time,  to  the  moon, 
turning  Westward,  and  yet  again  facing  the  Gov 
ernor,  they  bowed  still  lower  with  their  greetings. 

Whereupon  they  made  the  usual  demand :  "White 
Chief,  do  you  come  for  peace  or  war?" 

"For  peace,"  de  Soto  answered,  "and  a  free 
passage  through  your  country.  We  also  desire  pro 
visions  for  our  people,  and  assistance  with  canoes 
or  rafts  for  passing  the  river." 

"Our  supplies  are  small,"  replied  the  messengers. 
"Our  land,  last  year,  was  ravaged  by  a  pestilence. 
Many  of  our  tribe  abandoned  their  homes  and  vil 
lages,  took  refuge  in  the  woods,  and  neglected  to 
sow  their  corn.  So  food  is  scarce  among  us.  We 
will  return  to  our  Queen,  by  whom  we  are  gov 
erned.  She  is  a  discreet  and  generous  woman,  de 
spite  her  youth.  We  know,  she  will  serve  you  as 
best  she  can." 


no  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

With  these  words  the  six  red  men  departed. 
Shortly  movements  of  preparation  appeared  on  the 
opposite  shore.  The  Spaniards  observed  a  litter 
borne  by  four  servants  and  brought  to  the  water's 
edge.  From  this  carriage  there  alighted  an  Indian 
queen,  or  cacica,  beautifully  arrayed.  Before  her 
floated  a  decorated  canoe,  canopied,  carpeted  and 
cushioned,  suitably  for  its  royal  passenger.  Seat 
ing  herself  therein  the  maiden  ruler  sailed  across 
the  water,  attended  by  eight  ladies  in  waiting,  and, 
escorted  by  the  principal  men  of  her  nation,  who 
sailed  in  other  boats  by  her  side,  with  the  six  am 
bassadors,  already  mentioned,  leading  the  way  to 
the  place  where  the  Spanish  Commander  was  seated. 
With  them  also  floated  a  number  of  canoes  with 
armed  warriors  which  completed  the  procession 
across  the  river. 

At  her  approach  the  Spaniards  were  filled  with 
admiration.  She  came  as  a  queen  and  a  queen  in 
deed  she  was.  Youthful  and  beautiful,  but  eighteen 
years  of  age,  with  native  grace  and  dignity,  she 
made  her  obeisance  before  the  Governor.  With 
pleasant  face  he,  rising,  returned  her  salutation. 
Then  both  were  seated,  the  Cacica  on  a  stool  placed 
for  her  by  her  maids;  and,  de  Soto  resting  in  his 
chair  of  state.  Thus  the  two  rulers  entered  into 
conversation,  while  her  subjects  and  his,  about  them 
preserved  a  most  respectful  silence.  Ortiz  played 
the  part  of  interpreter. 

A  string  of  large  pearls  passed  thrice  around  the 
woman's  neck,  and  descended  gracefully,  to  her 
waist.  When  the  conference  with  the  white  man 


"COPPER,  NOT  GOLD"  in 

was  drawing  to  a  close,  the  queen  disengaged  the 
jewels  and,  requested  Ortiz  to  present  the  necklace 
to  his  chieftain.  This  gift  was  to  mark  the  woman's 
parting  salutation. 

Ortiz  replied:  "It  must  greatly  please  the  white 
chief,  if  you  yourself  would  place  the  pearls  about 
his  neck." 

"I  cannot,"  she  said,  shrinking  in  unfeigned 
modesty.  "I  dare  not  infringe  the  proprieties  of  my 
sex." 

Whereupon  de  Soto  apprehending  the  Cacica's 
scruples  urged  her  yet  further,  saying:  "It  will  be 
no  breach  of  decorum ;  for  we  are  persons  unknown 
to  each  other,  simply  treating  of  peace  and  amity." 

Then  in  queenly  grace  the  woman  rose,  and  placed 
the  pearls  about  the  neck  of  de  Soto;  he  likewise 
stood  up ;  and,  taking  from  his  finger  a  ring  of 
gold,  set  with  a  ruby,  presented  it  to  her,  as  a  token 
of  peace  and  friendship.  Placing  the  ring  upon  her 
finger,  she  returned  to  her  village,  whither,  also, 
the  Spanish  camp  was  destined  soon  to  come.  The 
following  day  they  crossed  the  stream  on  large  rafts 
and  a  fleet  of  large  canoes,  and  lodged  partly  in 
wigwams,  under  the  shade  of  the  luxuriant  mul 
berry  trees,  with  which  the  province  abounded. 
Around  the  village  they  saw  many  forsaken  wig 
wams,  long  untenanted,  a  token  that,  the  pestilence 
of  which  the  Indians  spoke,  had  sorely  smitten  their 
homes.  Here  the  army  tarried  several  weeks. 
Some  of  the  Spaniards  wished  to  settle  in  that 
fertile  spot.  The  priests  Barbidilla  and  Phillipe  be 
lieved  that  here  the  heathen  savages  could  readily  be 


ii2  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

reached  and  won  to  the  Church.  They  would  start 
a  mission  there  at  once  and  abide  beneath  the 
sway  of  the  friendly  queen. 

"These  people,"  remarked  Barbidilla,  "are  the 
most  civilized  of  any  of  the  Floridians  we  have  met. 
See,  they  wear  shoes  and  clothing  made  of  skins 
well-  dressed  and  colored.  They  adorn  themselves 
in  mantles,  made  of  feathers,  or,  robe  themselves 
in  their  textile  fabric  of  woody  fibre.  They  evi 
dently  have  learned  something  from  the  white  men 
who  have  chanced  to  wander  hither  before  we  found 
the  place." 

"You  mean,  some  of  Ayllon's  men,  in  their  visit, 
taught  them  these  arts  of  civilization?"  asked  Phil- 
lipe. 

"Yes,"  answered  the  other,"  if  you  will  have  it 
so;  for,  have  we  not  already  found  in  this  village, 
a  dagger  and  some  beads,  and  a  coat  of  mail,  show 
ing  we  are  not  the  first  teachers  from  civilized  lands 
to  come  among  these  people." 

"Still,  I  fear,"  ventured  Phillipe,  "we  cannot  so 
journ  here.  Already  I  detect  among  the  Indians 
signs  of  unrest  at  our  presence.  Have  you  not  heard 
of  the  intended  capture  of  the  mother  of  the  Prin 
cess?" 

Juan  de  Anasco  and  thirty  companions  had  al 
ready  been  dispatched  to  bring  to  de  Soto,  the 
Queen's  mother.  Her  daughter,  the  young  Queen, 
first  had  sent  twelve  of  her  principal  subjects,  to 
bring  the  elderly  woman  that  she  might  see  the 
wonderful  visitors  and  the  strange  animals  they  had 
brought ;  but  the  mother  would  not  come.  So  Anas- 


"COPPER,  NOT  GOLD"  113 

co  and  his  men  were  sent  to  bring  her  by  fair  and 
gentle  means ;  but  yet  to  bring  her,  as  the  Governor 
desired. 

They  were  guided  by  a  youthful  warrior,  whom 
the  princess  had  appointed  for  the  purpose.  Ortiz 
studied  the  young  man  well. 

"He  is  a  near  relative  of  the  coy  widow,"  he  told 
Anasco,  "and  loves  the  woman  you  seek  with  the 
love  of  a  son  for  his  mother.  She  is  dear  to  him, 
and  for  this  very  reason  the  Queen  has  sent  him  on 
this  errand  with  us  Spaniards." 

Twelve  miles  away,  down  the  river,  the  royal 
mother  was  supposed  to  dwell,  in  hiding.  Along 
that  stretch  of  a  dozen  miles  the  searching  party 
traveled,  under  the  guidance  of  the  noble  youth. 
With  head  decorated  in  lofty  plumes  of  different 
colors,  wearing  a  mantle  of  dressed  deer  skin,  car 
rying  a  bow  of  exquisite  workmanship,  and  a  quiver 
full  of  arrows,  he  went  on  before  them  with  light 
and  elastic  step.  Ortiz  was  drawn  to  him  at  once. 
Three  leagues  had  passed.  The  party  stopped  for 
their  mid-day  meal,  resting  beneath  the  shade  of  a 
wiclespreading  tree.  The  handsome  youth  grew 
pensive.  Turning  to  de  Leon,  who  sat  a  few  feet 
away,  Ortiz  said :  "I  notice  a  change  in  the  spirit  of 
our  guide.  He  acts  as  though  his  mission  were 
an  unpleasing  one.  Perhaps  some  bad  Indian  has 
aroused  his  suspicions  against  us.  If  I  had  seen  the 
form  of  Tachuco  in  this  forest  round  about,  I 
would  avow  that  this  young  man  has  caught  the 
spirit  of  that  mischief-making  red  skin.  See,  Juan, 
the  man  grows  moody  and  thoughtful.  He  falls 


ii4  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

into  a  reverie.  Listen,  he  repeats  deep-drawn  sighs. 
Why  does  he  act  thus?  Perhaps  till  now  he  has 
been  feigning  that  he  loved  this  errand;  but  now, 
perhaps,  his  Indian  mistrust  has  arisen,  and  he  fears 
we  may  harm  his  kinswoman." 

As  they  watched,  the  guide  quietly  removed  his 
quiver  and,  placing  it  before  him,  drew  out  the  ar 
rows  slowly,  one  by  one. 

"Let's  examine  them,"  said  Ortiz.  "They  are  ad 
mirable  in  skill  and  elegance.  Are  they  not?  Here 
is  one  tipped  with  buck's  horn,  wrought  with  four 
corners  like  a  diamond.  Here  is  one  pointed  with 
the  bone  of  a  fish  curiously  fashioned.  Here  is  a 
three-pronged  point." 

Then  Ortiz  handed  the  arrows  to  de  Leon  and 
de  Leon  passed  them  to  the  rest  of  the  company, 
until  they  went  the  rounds  and  were  returned  with 
high  praise  for  their  workmanship  portraying  the 
skill  of  their  maker  and  owner. 

But  the  quiver  was  not  yet  empty.  As  the  Span 
iards  watched,  the  remaining  arrows  were  with 
drawn,  until  the  last  shaft  was  reached.  It  was  a 
weapon  of  peculiar  beauty  and  deadliness,  with 
point  of  flint,  long  and  sharp  and  shaped  like  a 
dagger.  Anasco  and  his  men  were  busy  inspecting 
the  last  few  weapons  shown  them,  while  the  Indian 
stood  with  the  dagger-like  arrow  in  his  hand,  the 
last  one  from  his  quiver.  Casting  a  furtive  glance 
about  him,  he  saw  the  busy  and  much-interested 
Spaniards.  Then  suddenly  he  took  the  company  by 
surprise  and  brought  great  sorrow  to  them  all. 
Quickly  in  his  dejected  mood,  he  did  that  which 


"COPPER,  NOT  GOLD"  115 

was  difficult  of  explanation.  For  a  moment  he  held 
the  deadly  weapon,  then  plunged  it  in  his  throat, 
and  fell  dead  at  their  feet. 

Shocked  and  grieved,  unable  to  prevent  the  terri 
ble  deed,  the  Spaniards  called  to  them,  their  Indian 
attendants,  and  demanded  the  reason  for  the  melan 
choly  act  of  him  who  just  before  had  been  so  joy 
ous.  The  Indians  broke  in  loud  lamentations;  for 
they  dearly  loved  the  youth. 

They  said:  "The  only  explanation  we  can  give 
is  that  this  young  warrior  became  perplexed  about 
his  embassy.  He  knew  the  errand  would  be  dis 
agreeable  to  the  mother,  and,  he  fancied  the  Span 
iards  planned  to  carry  her  away.  He  alone  knew 
the  place  of  her  concealment,  and  it  was,  he  thought, 
an  unworthy  return  for  her  love  and  confidence, 
thus  to  betray  her  to  strangers.  On  the  other  hand, 
he  dared  not  lose  the  favor  of  his  young  mistress 
by  refusing  to  guide  the  Spaniards.  Either  of  these 
alternatives  would  be  worse  than  death,"  the  In 
dians  reasoned.  "So  he  has  chosen  death,"  they 
said,  "as  a  proof  to  his  mistress  of  his  loyalty  and 
devotion." 

So  Anasco  and  his  men  returned,  reported  the 
death  of  their  noble  guide.  A  second  time,  Anasco 
and  his  companions  set  out,  to  find  the  object  of 
this  search,  led  by  an  Indian  who  volunteered  his 
services,  but  by  this  time  the  old  lady,  having  heard 
of  the  vigorous  attempt  to  capture  her,  quickly  took 
refuge  in  the  depths  of  a  forest  which  they  found 
was  impossible  to  penetrate.  Then  the  Governor 
gave  up  further  effort  to  reach  her. 


n6  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

There  was,  however,  a  more  desired  quest.  It 
was  the  search  for  gold.  Inquiry  among  the  natives 
of  the  tribe,  brought  the  information  that,  traders 
had  trafficked  among  them  for  metal  similar  to  the 
gold  and  silver  shown  by  the  Spaniards.  They  had 
also  traded  with  them  for  pearls,  which  abounded 
in  their  country.  The  Governor  made  the  natives 
describe  to  the  youthful  queen  the  metals  he  sought 
and  begged  her,  if  such  treasure  existed  in  her  ter 
ritories,  to  have  specimens  brought  to  him. 

"I  shall  send  for  them,"  the  fair  lady  said,  and 
in  a  little  while  several  Indians  appeared,  laden 
with  the  supposed  treasure.  Eagerly  the  Spaniards 
watched  it;  but,  to  their  disappointment  found  the 
yellow  metal  was  a  specimen  of  copper  of  yellow 
ish  tint  much  resembling  gold.  The  white  metal, 
though  shining  and  resembling  silver,  was  value 
less,  and  crumbled  in  their  hands  like  dry  earth. 
The  historian  tells  us :  "Some  have  supposed  it  was 
a  species  of  quartz,  but  it  probably  was  mica.  Thus 
vanished  of  a  sudden  the  golden  treasures  of  Co- 
fachiqui,"  the  land  of  the  beauteous  Indian  queen. 

To  console  the  Spaniards  for  their  evident  dis 
appointment,  the  Cacacia  sent  them  on  a  hurried 
search  for  the  pearls  of  which  they  had  been  told. 
Then  began  a  mad  scramble  for  that  which  might 
be  riches.  At  one  end  of  the  village  was  built  a 
mausoleum,  the  sepulchre  of  all  the  chieftains  and 
great  warriors  of  that  place.  Within  the  walls  of 
the  temple,  the  Spaniards  were  told,  reposed  great 
quantities  of  pearls.  Thither  eager  feet  quickly 
sped,  and,  greedy  hands  robbed  the  dead  of  their 


"COPPER,  NOT  GOLD"  117 

unneeded  wealth.  The  men  found  pearls  of  every 
size,  and  in  incredible  quantities,  together  with  the 
figures  of  children  and  birds  fashioned  in  pearl.  The 
Portuguese  narrator  says:  "The  expedition  ob 
tained  fourteen  bushels  of  the  gems  and  they  were 
informed,  if  neighboring  villages  were  searched  they 
might  find  enough  to  load  all  the  horses  of  the 
army."  The  general  scramble  for  treasure  thus 
precipitated  was  quickly  checked  by  de  Soto. 

"You  are  at  present,"  he  said,  addressing  his 
men,  "discovering  the  country,  not  dividing  it.  We 
have  yet  to  make  our  way  through  a  vast  wil 
derness.  This  heavy  treasure,  therefore,  will  be  a 
burden  to  us.  We  shall  simply  take  some  specimens 
to  send  to  Cuba;  but  let  us  leave  the  temples  of 
our  Indian  friends  just  as  we  found  them.  Then 
dividing  several  handfuls  of  the  choicest  pearls 
among  his  officers,  he  called  them  aside  to  determine 
on  future  plans. 

The  leaders  talked  the  situation  over  in  every 
detail.  Muscoso  complained  of  certain  brawls 
which  had  occurred  between  the  natives  and  some 
white  soldiers. 

"Some  of  our  men,"  he  said,  "seem  to  be  too 
grasping  in  the  eyes  of  the  Indians." 

"I  perceive  also,"  remarked  Ortiz,  "a  great  change 
of  feeling  in  the  young  and  high-minded  princess." 

"True,  Ortiz,  only  yesterday,"  added  the  Gov 
ernor,  "the  girl  was  cold  and  indifferent  toward  me. 
She  eyes  us  with  great  distrust,  I  fear." 

"More,  also,  Ferdinand,"  said  Diego,  the  Gov 
ernor's  kinsman,  "I  have  private  information  that 


n8  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  Princess  has  planned  to  take  flight,  and  leave 
us  without  guides  for  our  march,  or,  porters  for 
the  baggage  of  the  army." 

The  priest  Phillipe  was  seated  in  their  councils 
that  night.  Throughout  the  discussion  he  main 
tained  the  most  studied  silence;  but  as  the  confer 
ence  concluded,  he  remarked  to  his  brother  priest: 
"If  you  were  living  at  Seville,  and  there,  some 
Englishmen,  strangers  to  you  and  your  land,  should 
meet  you,  compel  you  to  guide  them  to  San  Lucar 
and,  more  than  that,  carry  their  packs  upon  your 
back,  what  would  you  do?" 

"I  understand,"  said  Barbidilla.  "Well,  I  suppose 
it  is  natural  for  these  savages  to  grow  lukewarm 
and  indifferent  in  their  love  for  us  roaming  white 
men." 

"And,  now,"  Phillipe  added,  "this  night  our  men 
will  seize  the  graceful  queen  as  a  precaution  for  our 
safe  passage  through  her  land,  and  our  soldiers  will 
enslave  her  councillors,  to  carry  our  baggage  along 
the  way.  ..." 

So,  true  to  Phillipe's  prophesy,  next  day,  de  Soto 
set  forward  on  his  adventurous  course,  taking  with 
him  the  beautiful  Princess  of  Cofachiqui  in  his 
train.  The  fair  lady  went  unwillingly;  but  the  or 
ders  of  the  Governor  were  final.  She  must  go,  al 
though  no  indignity  should  be  offered  her.  A  guard 
was  placed  about  her,  including  two  negro  slaves 
and  a  Barbary  Moor.  The  cavaliers  and  the  lady 
left  the  city  by  the  river,  early  in  May,  and  tra 
versed  the  northern  part  of  what  is  now  Georgia. 
On,  on,  the  Spaniards  went,  with  the  Princess,  es- 


"COPPER,  NOT  GOLD"  119 

corted  by  her  maidens  and  carried  in  her  palanquin 
by  her  own  warriors.  "One  day,  the  lovely  maiden 
of  whom  the  whole  army  was  proud,  proved  her 
self  not  only  a  dignified  queen,  and  an  ideal  hostess, 
but  true  Indian  as  well,  for,  suddenly  leaping  from 
her  couch  and  running  with  the  fleetness  of  a  deer, 
she  darted  beneath  the  underbrush  of  the  dense 
forest,"  and  de  Soto  and  his  men  never  heard  from 
her  again.  De  Leon  first  noticed  her  escape,  and, 
informed  the  Governor.  Ortiz  was  called  to  ques 
tion  the  attending  Indians  who  carried  her;  but  all 
that  could  be  said  was:  "The  fair  bird  had  taken 
flight,  and  left  the  cage  behind."  The  two  negro 
slaves  and  the  Barbary  Moor  accompanied  her,  and 
were  harbored  by  the  natives. 

"All  along,"  reflected  Juan  de  Leon,  "my  sym 
pathy  has  been  with  this  royal  captive,"  and  he 
pictured  to  himself  Leonora,  his  queen,  thus  led 
away,  where,  he  did  not  know;  and  as  the  soldiers 
conjectured  on  the  Cacici's  disappearance,  Juan  also 
turned  his  mind  toward  her  who,  just  as  mysteri 
ously,  had  passed  out  of  his  life;  and  speaking  to 
himself  he  sighed :  "Surely  it  cannot  be  forever." 


CHAPTER  XII. 
"PAYING  THE  PRICE." 

Tuscaloosa  was  no  ordinary  Indian.  He  had 
made  his  power  felt  far  beyond  the  confines  of  his 
province.  Cosa,  the  neighboring  cacique,  had  felt 
this  hand  rest  heavily  upon  him.  The  other  cap 
tains,  whom  the  Spaniards  met,  as  they  pressed 
Westward,  were  not  unfamiliar  with  his  name.  In 
stature  he  was  a  giant  and,  towered  head  and  shoul 
ders  above  the  tallest  of  his  warriors.  In  disposi 
tion  he  was  proud  and  warlike.  In  battle  he  was 
ferocious,  and  in  every  dealing  he  was  treacherous. 
The  first  message  from  this  wily  chief  who  once 
ruled  what  are  now  the  present  States  of  Alabama 
and  Mississippi,  was  brought  by  his  son,  a  youth  of 
eighteen,  the  image  of  his  father.  The  son  pledged 
the  father's  friendship,  but  the  pledge  was  worth 
less.  He  also  proffered  his  services  and  invited 
de  Soto  to  his  residence,  but  all  this  show  of  kind 
ness  was  purely  feigned.  He  wished  to  snare  the 
Spaniards  and  wipe  out  their  army  by  one  bold 
stroke.  Vitachuco  had  formed  such  a  plot  before 
and  failed.  Now  Tuscaloosa  was  to  play  a  similar 
game.  Would  he  succeed? 

Tuscaloosa's  son  met  de  Soto  and  his  men, 
twelve  leagues  from  the  fierce  cacique's  stronghold. 
Graceful  and  courteous  he  won  the  favor  of  the 
Governor,  and  was  dismissed  with  presents  for  him- 


"PAYING  THE  PRICE"  121 

self  and  his  father.  He  then  departed  with  assur 
ances  that  the  Spaniard's  friendship  was  recipro 
cated.  The  invitation  for  de  Soto  to  visit  the  Chief 
tain  was  gladly  accepted  and,  the  second  night  from 
this  friendly  meeting  with  the  son  of  Tuscaloosa, 
de  Soto  encamped  about  two  leagues  from  the  In 
dian's  village.  At  an  early  hour  of  the  morning  the 
Governor  preceded  by  his  camp-master-general 
and  several  of  the  cavaliers,  was  on  his  way  to  see 
the  Chieftain  face  to  face.  They  found  him  posted 
on  the  crest  of  a  hill.  Below  the  rising  ground  was 
spread  a  rich  and  beautiful  valley,  through  which 
the  Spaniards  passed,  up  to  the  plateau  above. 
There  the  haughty  chieftain  appeared.  The  cav 
aliers  who  preceded  de  Soto  arranged  themselves 
in  the  Indian's  presence;  but  he  would  not  notice 
them,  although  the  troopers  sought  in  every  way 
to  incite  his  attention.  They  made  their  horses 
curvet  and  caracole,  as  they  passed,  and  sometimes 
spurred  them  to  his  very  feet.  Still  he  maintained 
his  gravity  undisturbed  and  from  time  to  time  cast 
his  eyes  upon  them  in  haughty  and  disdainful 
glances.  When  the  Governor  approached  he  rose 
to  meet  him.  The  two  embraced,  conversed  at  some 
length,  then  proceeded  to  lodgings  near  the  house  of 
Tucaloosa,  where  de  Soto  was  to  stop;  while  the 
troops  sought  quarters  in  the  village  allotted  to  them. 
After  two  days'  rest  the  Governor  continued  his 
march,  accompanied  by  Tuscaloosa,  whom  he  kept 
with  him  as  sort  of  hostage  for  sake  of  security. 
So  they  journeyed  on.  Next  day,  two  soldiers  were 
reported  missing. 


122  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"Ask  the  Indians,  Ortiz,"  said  the  Governor. 
"Perhaps  they  can  tell  us  where  the  men  have  gone." 

The  reply  of  the  warriors  was  insolent. 

They  said :  "Why  do  you  ask  us  about  your  peo 
ple  ?  Are  we  responsible  for  them  ?  Did  you  place 
them  under  our  charge?" 

There  followed  then  a  war  of  words  between  Tus- 
caloosa  and  the  Spanish  leader  and  the  Indian  chief 
grew  sullen. 

"We  shall  hold  you  as  hostage,  till  the  men  are 
returned,"  de  Soto  threatened ;  but  this  menace  was 
of  no  avail. 

"They  have  been  massacred,"  suggested  Ortiz, 
and  this  the  Governor  believed,  and  from  that  time 
the  red  men  and  the  white  men  were  distrustful  of 
one  another. 

At  length  the  strained  relations  ended  in  out 
break  of  hostilities.  The  village  of  Mauvilla  was 
reached.  This  was  the  stronghold  of  the  cacique. 
There  he  and  his  principal  men  resided.  Lying,  as 
it  did,  on  the  frontiers  of  his  territories,  it  was 
strongly  fortified,  surrounded  by  high  walls,  formed 
of  huge  tree  trunks  driven  well  into  the  ground, 
side  by  side  and  wedged  together. 

"They  welcome  us  with  song  and  dance,"  said 
de  Leon  who,  with  Ortiz,  was  in  advance;  for 
toward  the  Spanish  soldiers  there  marched  a  splen 
did  train  of  warriors,  painted,  decorated  and  clad 
in  robes  of  skins  and  flaunting  feathers  of  every 
brilliant  color,  and  as  they  marched,  they  sang  and 
danced  to  the  accompaniment  of  rude  instruments  of 
music.  Behind  the  dancing  braves  followed  a  band 


"PAYING  THE  PRICE"  123 

of  young  damsels,  beautiful  in  form  and  feature. 
Side  by  side  with  the  Governor  rode  Tuscaloosa  in 
flaming  mantle  of  scarlet,  followed  by  a  train  of 
horsemen  in  glittering  armor  and  preceded  by  danc 
ing  groups  of  Indians.  Turning  to  Ortiz  the  ca 
cique  gave  information  of  the  Spaniard's  resting 
place  that  night. 

"Yonder  house  is  large.  Let  your  Chief  lodge 
there  and  in  the  building  just  beside  it  your  mas 
ter's  servants  and  attendants  can  find  their  stopping 
place.  The  rest  of  your  soldiers  must  encamp  a 
bow-shot  distance  without  the  walls. 

This  arrangement  of  the  stopping  places  for  de 
Soto  and  his  army,  so  far  apart,  did  not  please  the 
Governor.  His  reply  to  Tuscaloosa  was :  "Our 
lodging  places  will  be  assigned  when  the  camp-mas 
ter  arrives." 

The  Cacique  yielded  sullenly,  then  said:  "I  wish 
the  white  men  no  longer  to  make  me  follow  in  their 
company." 

De  Soto  answered:  "Tuscaloosa  is  our  friend. 
He  shall  go  with  us  to  lead  us  on  our  way  through 
his  country." 

The  haughty  spirit  of  the  Indian  rose  within  him. 
"I  will  not  do  as  the  White  Chief  orders,"  he  said 
in  anger ;  then  left  de  Soto  and  made  his  way  to  an 
Indian  dwelling  where  his  armed  followers  were 
gathered. 

At  his  departure  a  Spanish  cavalier  approached 
the  Governor.  "I  have  found,"  he  said,  "what 
seems  to  be  plain  evidence  of  treachery.  In  the  few 
houses  which  we  see  about  the  village  are  scattered 


124  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

ten  thousand  chosen  warriors.  None  of  them  are 
old,  or  of  the  servile  class;  but  all,  fighting  men, 
noble  and  young,  and  well  armed.  The  women  and 
children  have  been  hurried  away.  The  palisades 
around  the  village  are  being  strengthened.  The 
fields  about  the  village  are  being  prepared  as  for  a 
battle-field." 

The  Governor  looked  troubled,  then  said:  "Tell 
the  troops  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  ac 
tion.  Inform  the  Master-of-the-camp  of  what  you 
have  seen  and  direct  him  to  act  accordingly.  In 
the  meantime  let  us  play  the  part  of  friends  and 
conciliate  the  Cacique  by  courteous  treatment." 

The  morning  came  after  a  restless  night.  Ortiz, 
at  de  Soto's  command,  bore  Tuscaloosa  an  invita 
tion  to  dine  with  the  Governor.  The  invitation  was 
spurned.  In  fact,  the  attendants  of  the  Cacique 
met  Ortiz  at  the  threshold  and  refused  him  admit 
tance.  Twice  was  the  message  of  the  Governor 
denied  recognition.  A  third  time  it  was  brought, 
this  time  in  plain  announcement:  "Tell  Tuscaloosa 
to  come  forth;  the  food  is  on  the  table,  and  the 
Governor  is  waiting  for  him." 

At  this  last  call  for  dinner,  there  sallied  forth 
an  Indian,  who  seemed  to  be  a  general  of  the  Ca 
cique's  army.  The  officer's  eye  flashed  fire,  as  he 
cried:  "Who  are  these  robbers!  these  vagabonds!" 
cried  he,  "who  keep  calling  for  my  chief,  Tusca 
loosa,  come  out!  come  out!  with  as  little  reverence 
as  though  he  were  one  of  them !  By  the  sun  and 
moon  this  is  insolence  no  longer  to  be  borne.  Let 


"PAYING  THE  PRICE"  125 

us  cut  them   to  pieces,  and  put  an  end  to   their 
wickedness  and  tyranny." 

The  words  had  scarcely  passed  his  lips,  when  an 
other  Indian,  stepping  up  behind  him,  placed  in  his 
hand  a  bow  and  arrows.  The  Indian  commander 
rolled  back  from  his  shoulders  the  folds  of  his  rich 
mantle  of  martin  skins  which  was  buttoned  round 
his  neck,  and  bared  his  arms.  Quickly  then  he 
placed  an  arrow  in  his  bow,  and  aimed  at  a  knot 
of  Spaniards  in  the  square  fifty  yards  away.  Be 
fore  he  could  wing  the  shaft,  a  quick  sword-thrust 
of  the  cavalier  de  Callegos  laid  open  the  man's  body, 
thus  exposed  through  the  open  mantle.  The  In 
dian  staggered  a  moment,  then  fell,  dead.  His  son, 
a  youth  of  eighteen,  sprang  to  avenge  his  father's 
death,  and  let  fly  seven  arrows  as  fast  as  any  brave 
could  draw  them.  The  weapons  struck  harmlessly 
on  de  Gallegos'  armor.  Then,  the  frantic  boy,  grasp 
ing  his  bow  with  both  hands,  dealt  the  Spaniard 
four  mighty  blows  upon  the  head.  The  blood  ran 
down  Gallegos'  forehead.  The  beating  had  almost 
stunned  the  knight ;  but  recovering  himself,  he  thrust 
the  son  as  he  did  the  father,  and  laid  him  dead  at 
his  feet. 

The  terrible  warwhoop  now  rang  through  the  vil 
lage.  Like  a  mountain  torrent,  warriors,  ready 
armed,  poured  from  every  house,  and  attacked  the 
Spaniards  like  a  disastrous  flood.  The  white  men 
were  well  nigh  overwhelmed ;  but  boldly  faced  the 
enemy,  the  while  retreating  from  the  city,  to  join 
forces  with  the  remainder  of  the  army.  Five  men 
were  left  slain  in  the  streets.  A  danger  now  beset 


i26  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  cavaliers.  Many  of  them  had  tethered  their 
horses  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  Among  them 
was  Juan  de  Leon  and  Rodrique  Gomez.  Juan  first 
noticed  their  predicament,  and  called  to  Rodrique: 
"Quick,  get  to  your  horse.  They're  almost  on  us." 
Just  then  an  arrow  grazed  the  speaker's  face,  an 
other  furrowed  his  neck,  simply  drawing  blood. 
Across  their  path,  an  Indian  moved,  raised  his 
tomahawk  to  strike,  but  Gomez  following  close  be 
hind,  tripped  the  savage,  and  left  him  sprawling  in 
the  road,  while  the  two  youths  sought  their  chargers. 
They  had  reached  them  none  too  soon;  for  the 
plans  of  the  savages  were  well  devised,  and  partly 
carried  into  effect. 

Dividing  into  two  bands ;  one  was  to  fight  the 
retreating  Spaniards,  the  other  purposed  to  kill  the 
horses,  and  gather  the  baggage  and  effects  of  the 
army,  which  had  by  this  time  arrived,  and  lay 
heaped  along  the  wall  and  about  the  fields.  Juan 
de  Leon  and  Rodrique  and  most  of  the  cavaliers 
secured  their  horses;  but  the  camp  supplies  and 
equipment  were  borne  away  by  the  red  skins.  With 
the  luggage  they  took  the  slaves,  freed  them  from 
their  chains,  and  placing  weapons  in  their  hands, 
urged  them  to  fight  and  preserve  their  liberty.  Juan 
and  Rodrique  now  found  themselves  beneath  the 
village  walls.  The  heavy  gates  of  the  stockaded 
town  were  closed,  and  as  they  paused  at  the  en 
trance,  the  Indians  sought  to  terrify  them  with  the 
beating  of  their  wooden  drums  and  their  unearthly 
yells,  as  they  triumphantly  displayed  for  the  Span 
iards'  benefit,  various  pieces  of  the  baggage  they 


"PAYING  THE  PRICE"  127 

had  captured.  The  horsemen,  with  the  fighting 
forces  behind  them,  then  assailed  the  village  walls. 
Now  they  drove  the  Indians  from  their  stronghold ; 
again  they  retreated,  for  they  found  the  missiles 
thrown  from  the  sheltered  defense,  above  their  head, 
wrought  havoc  on  their  men.  Seeing  them  with 
draw,  the  savages  made  bold  to  rush  forth.  Again 
the  Spaniards  made  assault,  beat  down  a  hundred 
of  the  bravest,  and  quickly  drove  them  back  within 
the  gate.  Thus  the  two  armies  fought,  backwards 
and  forwards,  without  cessation,  for  three  long 
hours. 

Already  the  cavaliers  had  suffered  losses  they 
could  not  well  overcome.  Don  Carlos  Enriquez, 
nephew  of  cle  Soto,  when  the  battle  was  scarce  be 
gun,  fell  mortally  wounded.  Juan  first  saw  the 
young  man's  difficulty.  His  horse  was  wounded  in 
the  breast.  An  arrow  had  pierced  the  noble  animal, 
and  remained  imbedded  in  the  flesh.  His  squadron 
had  retreated,  and  Don  Carlos  sought  to  withdraw 
the  shaft,  and  thus  relieve  the  horse. 

"Let  me  hold  your  spear,  Don,"  said  Juan  who 
rode  by  his  side.  Not  hearing  him,  the  Governor's 
nephew  retained  his  lance,  simply  passing  it  from 
his  right  hand  to  his  left,  as  he  leaned  forward  over 
his  horse's  neck  to  seize  the  dart.  He  tugged  at 
the  arrow,  leaned  sidewise,  thus  exposing  his  neck, 
the  only  portion  of  his  person  unprotected.  In  an 
instant  an  arrow,  tipped  with  flint,  came  with  the 
swiftness  of  lightning,  buried  itself  in  his  throat, 
and  the  poor  man  toppled  from  his  horse.  Juan, 
with  heroic  endeavor,  caught  him  as  he  fell  and 


i28  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

bore  him  from  the  field  of  conflict;  but  strive  as 
best  he  could  to  save  his  life,  next  day  he  died. 
Urged  on  by  the  fierceness  of  the  battle  before 
the  gate,  the  Governor  ordered  a  company  of  his 
cavalry  to  dismount,  and,  thoroughly  armed,  taking 
bucklers  for  their  defense,  and  battle  axes  in  their 
hands,  thus  by  dint  of  incessant  attack  to  break 
open  the  gates,  and  take  the  village  by  storm.  In 
an  instant  a  band  of  two  hundred  resolute  cavaliers 
dashed  forward  to  the  assault.  Their  names  were 
honored  ones,  Muscoso,  Juan  de  Leon,  Anasco, 
Gomez,  Gallegos  and  others  equally  deserving  of 
mention.  With  impetuous  dash  the  brave  men 
rushed,  and  with  equal  boldness  the  Indians  re 
ceived  them,  giving  blow  for  blow.  Now  they  are 
repulsed.  Again  they  return  to  the  attack.  No 
words  passed  between  them.  Only  blows  were  the 
order  of  the  day,  and  these  rained  like  so  many 
battle  rams,  at  one  time  on  the  falling  stockade,  at 
another  on  the  arms  and  heads  of  the  exposed 
savages. 

At  last  the  gate  was  broken  down.  Juan  and 
Rodrique  were  among  the  first  to  enter.  They 
plunged  forward  impetuously  amidst  a  shower  of 
darts  and  stones.  Those  who  knew  him,  thought 
they  saw  the  form  of  the  ever-present  Tachuco 
among  the  warriors.  Rodrique  was  about  to  speak. 
He  began  :  "Look,  Juan,  is  not  that  Tachuco  yonder  ? 
I  think  he  sees  us  also." 

Juan  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  designated  red 
man,  and,  as  certain  as  the  sun  rose  that  day, 
Tachuco  fought  upon  the  wall.  For  miles  and 


"PAYING  THE  PRICE"  129 

miles  that  unrelenting  savage  had  followed  the  white 
men's  army,  spreading  hatred  in  his  pathway  and, 
at  each  new  nation's  door,  giving  the  Indians  that 
clew  with  which  they  might  pass  the  expedition  on 
its  fateful  way.  Tachuco  had  met  the  wily  Tus- 
caloosa,  and  before  the  question  could  be  asked:  "Is 
gold  here  to  be  found?"  Tuscaloosa  had  struck  the 
blow  which  was  yet  falling  on  the  heads  of  the 
Spanish  cavaliers  and  the  army. 

There  was  not  time  for  Juan  to  reply  to  Rod- 
rique's  question  as  he  glanced  at  Tachuco.  Every 
moment  called  to  action.  The  strife  was  excep 
tionally  fierce  about  the  men  who  forced  the  gate 
way.  The  passage  was  narrow,  and  those  who 
entered  did  so  at  great  hazard.  Then  the  hundred 
and  more  cavaliers  without  the  gate  attacked  the 
wall  with  their  telling  axes.  The  facing  of  straw 
and  clay  fell  before  them.  The  cross  beams  also 
were  laid  bare,  and  their  fastenings  broken.  The 
barricade  yielded  in  a  dozen  places,  and  a  mad 
scramble  of  the  knights  began,  not  only  through  the 
open  gate,  but  over  the  broken  walls,  up  and  on 
through  the  village  streets.  Through  the  length  of 
the  town  they  fought.  From  the  tops  of  houses 
they  contended  with  the  ubiquitous  Indian.  They 
fired  the  homes  of  the  savages,  and  wrapped  in 
flames,  the  smoke  rose  heavenward  a  further  token 
of  the  wrath  of  man. 

The  defense  of  the  hosts  of  Tuscaloosa  was  a 
desperate  one.  The  battle  was  everywhere,  with 
out  the  walls,  within  the  walls,  and  through  the  city 
streets  it  traveled  like  the  wind.  When  the  siege 


130  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

on  the  wall  was  raised,  some  corner  of  the  town 
became  another  strong  fortress,  or  some  fortified 
dwelling  marked  a  place  within  and  without  which 
armed  bands  fought.  The  battle  raged  at  length 
about  the  large  house  in  the  square,  the  one  as 
signed  the  Governor  for  his  private  use.  There  the 
Indians  were  assailing,  and  a  company  of  white 
men  within  maintaining  the  siege.  The  savages 
evidently  sought  to  despoil  the  Governor's  camp 
equipage  and  slay  his  retinue.  They  had  not  at 
tacked  the  building  at  first  as  they  supposed  it  com 
pletely  within  their  power;  and  even  now  they  ap 
proached  the  place  simply  to  take  away  the  spoils. 
To  their  surprise  the  Indians  found  it  strongly 
fortified.  Within  were  three  cross-bow  men  and 
five  halberdiers  of  the  Governor's  guard,  also  an 
Indian,  armed  with  bow  and  arrows,  a  red  skin 
who  had  been  faithful  from  the  first  landing  of 
the  Spaniards.  Besides  these  fighting  men  were  the 
two  priests,  Barbidilla  and  Phillipe,  and  two  slaves 
belonging  to  the  Governor.  This  constituted  the 
entire  garrison ;  and  they  defended  the  house  stout 
ly;  the  laymen  with  their  weapons,  the  priests  in 
fervent  devotions. 

The  Indians  tried  in  vain  to  gain  the  portal. 
Mounting  the  roof,  they  broke  it  open  in  a  dozen 
places ;  but  so  well  did  the  cross-bow  men  and  the 
friendly  Indian  ply  their  weapons  that  scarcely  did 
an  enemy  show  himself  than  he  was  transfixed  by 
an  arrow.  Thus  the  white  guard  fought  and  kept 
their  enemies  at  bay  until  de  Soto  and  his  bands 
came  to  their  relief.  The  Governor  at  the  head  of 


"PAYING  THE  PRICE"  131 

his  daring  cavaliers  spurred  his  charger  up  and 
down  the  principal  streets,  trampling  down  some, 
lancing  others,  leaving  a  track  of  carnage  wherever 
they  passed.  Toward  the  end  of  the  battle  Mus- 
coso,  master  of  the  camp,  arrived.  He  had  foolishly 
loitered  on  the  way,  and,  as  he  sauntered  toward 
the  village  where  to  him  the  unknown  battle  was 
raging,  he  heard  the  distant  alarms  of  drum  and 
trumpet,  and  beheld  a  column  of  smoke  rising  in 
the  air.  Suspecting  the  cause  he  pressed  forward 
with  his  men  in  all  speed  to  the  scene  of  action.  It 
was  late  in  the  afternoon.  He  and  Diego  de  Soto, 
kinsman  of  the  Governor,  entered  the  town  together. 
While  hastening  to  join  the  fighting  forces  of  his 
uncle  Diego  de  Soto  learned  the  sad  fate  of  his 
cousin  Don  Carlos  Enriquez,  to  whom  he  was  most 
devoted. 

"I  will  avenge  his  death,"  cried  Diego,  as  he  threw 
himself  from  his  horse  and  rushed  into  the  village 
with  his  sword  and  buckler.  Juan  watched  Diego 
as  he  plunged  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  He 
also  saw  him  as  he  fell  with  an  arrow  in  his  brain. 
He  fell  as  did  his  cousin  Don  Carlos  two  hours 
before.  De  Leon  carried  him  away  and  laid  him 
with  the  fallen  knight  he  so  much  loved.  Thus  for 
nine  long  hours  the  battle  raged.  The  savages  re 
fused  to  surrender,  or  lay  down  their  arms,  and 
fought  until  all  were  slain.  The  last  warrior  that 
wielded  a  weapon  was  among  those  fighting  in  the 
village.  So  blinded  was  he  with  fury  that  he  became 
unconscious  of  his  comrade's  fate,  until  glancing 
about  him  he  saw  all  lying  dead.  Further  contest 


I32  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

was  hopeless,  so  he  turned  in  flight.  Reaching  the 
wall  he  sprang  lightly  to  the  top  thinking  to  escape 
across  the  fields.  Here,  however,  to  his  great  dis 
may  he  beheld  the  squadrons  of  horse  and  foot  be 
low  him,  and  the  fields  about  covered  with  his 
slaughtered  countrymen.  Escape  now  was  impos 
sible;  death  or  slavery  awaited  him.  In  his  despair 
he  snatched  the  string  from  his  bow,  passed  it  round 
his  neck,  fastened  the  other  end  to  the  branch  of 
a  tree,  and  threw  himself  from  the  wall,  strangled 
in  the  presence  of  the  Spaniards  before  they  could 
prevent  it.  Thus  he  perished,  and  with  him  that 
day  five  thousand  of  his  fellows,  for  it  was  a  day 
of  great  slaughter.  Thus  the  haughtiness  of  Tusca- 
loosa  was  overcome;  but  not  without  great  havoc 
to  the  white  men  as  well  as  their  enemies.  The 
day  of  strife  closed  with  great  loss  of  noble  blood, 
and  with  destruction  of  their  baggage  and  posses 
sions,  they  could  never  replace  in  those  unfriendly 
forests.  Such  was  the  price  paid  by  the  seekers 
after  gold. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
"THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION." 

The  first  night  after  the  battle  found  the  army 
in  great  misery.  It  was  a  night  of  lamentations  and 
groans  of  the  dying.  Many  brave  comrades  would 
be  seen  no  more  along  the  weary  march.  Many 
loved  faces  would  now  be  missed  in  the  advance 
upon  the  futile  quest.  Such  was  the  price  the  Span 
iards  paid ;  but  the  end  was  not  yet.  That  night 
those  who  were  able  bore  arms,  patrolled  as  sen 
tinels,  and  maintained  a  vigilant  watch,  expecting 
further  to  be  assailed.  Thus  the  dreary  night 
passed  away ;  and  eight  days  sped  along,  as  the 
wounded  strove  to  get  well ;  and  those  who  were 
well  cared  for  them  and  buried  the  dead.  Yet  fur 
ther,  fifteen  days  rolled  away,  while  the  Spaniards 
tarried  still  amid  the  dreadful  scenes  of  carnage. 
They  foraged  for  food,  going  as  far  as  four  miles 
in  a  circuit  about  their  camp,  and  from  the  de 
serted  hamlets  round  about,  they  brought  back 
enough  provisions  for  the  army.  Also  to  the  white 
man's  credit,  it  must  be  said,  he  shared  with  the 
wounded,  starving  Indians  in  the  village,  the  food 
he  brought  from  near  and  far. 

From  these  Indian  survivors  the  Spaniards 
learned  how  the  treacherous  Tuscaloosa  had  planned 
the  destruction  of  de  Soto  and  his  men,  from  the 
time  he  first  heard  of  their  approach. 


134  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"Tachuco,  I  feel  sure,  had  gone  on  before  us," 
remarked  Juan  de  Leon.  "Without  doubt  he  in 
spired  the  evil  heart  of  Tuscaloosa,  and  joined 
forces  with  him  against  us." 

"I  trust  he  fell  among  the  slain,"  said  Rodrique 
Gomez. 

"If  not,"  broke  in  Ortiz,  "no  doubt  he  is  on  his 
way  to  greet  another  tribe,  and  tell  them  how  they 
may  be  badly  thrashed." 

"But,  my  children,"  said  Barbidilla,  the  ever- 
present  priest,  "pray  that  we  shall  have  no  more  of 
such  experience  as  those  of  this  terrible  day." 

"Yes,  father,  pray  that  prayer  for  us.  Your 
prayers  served  some  purpose  in  the  Governor's 
house  that  afternoon  when  your  little  garrison  was 
so  sorely  pressed,  but  finally  relieved,"  Ortiz  sug 
gested. 

"I  have  just  left  the  Governor,  Barbidilla,  and 
find  the  burdens  of  the  expedition  weigh  heavily 
on  his  shoulders."  The  speaker  was  the  clerical 
Phillipe.  He  had  gone  to  de  Soto's  tent  at  the 
summons  of  the  Adelantado.  The  great  man  was 
depressed.  He  had  just  received  word  that  ships 
from  Cuba  with  fresh  supplies  for  his  army  were 
now  in  Pensacola  Bay,  a  few  days'  march  distant. 
Thither  he  could  send  his  men  to  bring  recruits  and 
provisions  for  his  army ;  but  rumors  had  reached  his 
ears.  His  men  had  grown  disheartened.  Juan  de 
Leon  had  told  him  so;  Ortiz,  too,  brought  a  similar 
message;  Rodrique  Gomez,  further,  supported  the 
statements  of  the  others,  but  added:  "I  am  well 
pleased.  This  life  now  suits  me.  I  don't  like  too 


"THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION"  135 

much  fighting;  but  there  are  compensations.  A 
good  game  and  agreeable  companions  and  enough 
for  one  day  is  all  I  want.  Let's  go  on  and  get 
rich  before  we  return,  or  let's  not  go  back  at  all." 

To  confirm  or  refute  these  messages  of  discon 
tent  de  Soto  summoned  Father  Phillipe.  Now  the 
good  father  was  bound  to  tell  the  truth.  His  dis 
position,  moreover,  would  lead  him  not  to  make  the 
truth  less  baneful  looking  than  it  was.  He  sympa 
thized  somewhat  with  the  complaints  he  heard. 
Barbidilla  had  called  him  contentious  and  com 
plaining  these  many  days;  but  from  this  honest 
servant  of  the  Church,  the  Governor  at  any  rate 
could  gain  an  answer  to  his  question.  So  the  priest 
appeared  before  the  commander  of  the  Spanish 
forces. 

"Tell  me,  father,  is  it  true  my  men  are  in  rebel 
lious  temper?  Are  they  ready  to  return  to  Spain? 
Have  they  had  enough  of  this  search  for  gold,  or 
— as  I  have  heard  you  call  it — this  running  battle, 
from  the  sea-coast  to  the  grave?  Tell  me  plainly, 
father.  I  will  listen." 

"They  whisper,  Governor,  that  you  are  a  man  of 
few  words,  ready  to  listen  to  advice,  but  slow  to 
follow  it.  If  I  should  tell  you  what  I  hear  it  would 
not  please  your  majesty.  To  speak  the  truth,  the 
men  are  discouraged.  They  say  the  search  before 
them  is  vain.  Mexico  or  Peru  would  have  been 
much  better.  Spain  is  a  great  way  off;  but  they 
long  for  Spain.  They  say  with  one  acclaim :  'We 
have  had  enough  of  this.' '' 

"I  have  heard  you,  faithful  priest,  now  return  to 


136  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

your  quarters.  To-night  I  will  pass  In  disguise 
among  the  cavaliers,  peep  in  at  the  tents  of  some,  I 
fancy,  now  revolt  and  listen.  If  possible  go  this 
night  to  the  tent  of  our  treasurer,  Juan  Gaytan.  I 
am  told  he  and  his  comrades  have  determined  to 
leave  the  expedition.  Remember,  now,  Phillipe,  I 
shall  be  about  the  camp  this  night.  Others  whom  I 
have  taken  into  my  confidence  know  this.  See  that 
my  purpose  is  successful." 

Throughout  the  camp  that  night  there  wandered 
the  Governor  in  disguise.  From  the  tent  of  de 
Leon  and  Gomez  he  passed.  There  he  stayed  not, 
for  he  knew  their  mind  and  the  messages  they  had 
brought  him.  In  company  with  Ortiz  he  approached 
the  tent  of  Juan  Gaytan  who  bore  the  title  "treas 
urer,"  but  long  since  had  lost  everything  but  that 
title.  Gaytan  was  talking  with  several  cavaliers. 

"Yes,"  said  one  of  them,  "I  have  heard  a  rumor 
that  vessels  from  Cuba  are  soon  to  stop  at  Pensacola. 
That  port  is  now  not  many  miles  away.  Let  us  in 
some  way  go  with  the  company  who  meet  the  ships 
to  bring  the  recruits  and  supplies  inland.  Once  at 
the  sea-coast  and  with  Spanish  ships  at  our  dis 
posal.  .  .  ." 

"How  at  our  disposal?"  broke  in  a  second. 

"That  question  will  easily  be  settled,  brother, 
when  we  reach  the  port  and  present  our  credentials 
in  the  shape  of  three  score  well-armed  knights  who 
wish  to  sail  for  Mexico,  Peru,  or  even  Spain  itself." 

"Careful,  my  men,"  said  the  treasurer,  "talk  is 
sometimes  dangerous,  and  sometimes  it  reaches  ears 
which  we  desire  not  to  hear.  Hush,  what  is  that 


"THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION"  137 

noise?    Quick,  peer  out  into  the  dark  a  moment." 

Before  the  nearest  to  the  entrance  could  do  as  the 
treasurer  directed,  the  rustle  had  ceased,  two  forms 
were  passing  the  tent  just  beyond. 

"It's  nothing,"  said  the  cavalier  after  he  had  thus 
carelessly  investigated  the  sound  without.  "It's 
nothing,"  he  repeated.  "Just  two  of  our  men  pass 
ing  by.  One  is  Ortiz  and  the  other  I  could  not  rec 
ognize.  Some  good-sized  soldier  it  was.  Perhaps  it 
was  Gomez.  He  is  given  to  staying  up  at  night." 

Then  the  figures  of  the  two  men,  Ortiz,  and  the 
other  man  passed  on  to  the  tent  of  de  Leon,  twenty 
rods  beyond.  The  two  rested  there  awhile.  Juan 
was  not  surprised  to  see  them.  He,  too,  was  party 
to  the  midnight  expedition  of  de  Soto  to  learn  the 
feeling  of  his  men. 

"I  have  learned  the  worst,  Juan,"  said  the  Gov 
ernor,  when  he  and  Ortiz  were  well  beneath  the 
shelter  of  the  tent.  "There  is  a  spirit  of  discontent 
abroad ;  and  some  even  whisper  rebellion  when  the 
right  time  comes.  Well,  I  am  not  surprised.  It  is 
not  strange  for  some  of  our  knights  to  feel  as  they 
do  after  the  fearful  battle  we  have  just  fought;  but 
when  we  find  that  gold,  or  when  we  settle  in  some 
fertile  resting  place,  and  have  more  comfortable 
quarters,  and  recuperate,  then  all  this  discontent  will 
pass  away.  Then,  too,  I  know  it  is  hard  for  some 
to  be  separated  from  their  loved  ones.  They  tell 
me,  Juan,  you  are  on  the  list  of  those  who  have  left 
some  one  behind.  Ah,  yes,  I  know  the  lady  well. 
Juan,  she's  made  of  the  right  material.  How  well 
I  remember  her  when  she  joined  our  fleet,  a  day's 


138  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

sail  from  San  Lucar.  But  come,  Ortiz,  if  I  talk 
like  this  to  Juan  I  shall  make  him  both  homesick 
and  rebellious.  We  must  get  us  home  to  our  beds." 

As  they  passed  on  through  the  night  the  Gov 
ernor  said :  "Ortiz,  I  take  you  further  into  my  con 
fidence.  I  have  not  told  others  what  I  now  tell  you, 
although  some  of  the  unruly  cavaliers  in  camp  sur 
mise  it.  Not  many  hours  ago  messages  reached  me 
that  our  boats  from  Cuba  had  reached  Pensacola. 
Arias  and  Maldonado,  with  whom  I  left  instruc 
tions  when  at  the  coast,  have  now  reached  Pensacola, 
which  is  not  more  than  seven  days'  journey  distant, 
from  the  point  where  we  now  encamp.  Come  to 
my  tent.  I  have  there  one  of  the  men  who  brought 
me  this  report.  He  is  one  of  those  prisoners  whom 
Anasco  brought  to  camp  last  night.  The  man  talks 
the  same  language  as  my  faithful  Indian,  Sozo.  He 
tells  Sozo  he  learned  this  news  from  Indians  living 
near  the  southern  waters.  I  do  not  doubt  him.  The 
vessels  are  there  as  planned  by  me.  He  also  tells 
of  a  brave  white  girl,  who  met  the  Spaniards  when 
they  landed,  and  wished  to  be  carried  by  them  in 
land  in  search  of  our  expedition.  Why  should  this 
white  maid  thus  seek  us?" 

"Perhaps  it  is  Dona  Isabel,  your  majesty,"  said 
the  smiling  Ortiz. 

"No,  it  is  not  she;  and  this  you  know,  for  I  be 
sought  her  not  to  come  to  Florida;  and  then,  if  she 
did  make  the  journey,  it  would  be  in  the  vessels 
themselves  and  not  by  land,  or  some  other  way,  so 
as  to  meet  the  ships  at  their  landing  place." 

"Ah,  listen,  your  majesty,  that  maiden   can  be 


"THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION"  139 

none  other  than  de  Leon's  friend,  she  who  followed 
him  across  the  sea,  as  I  am  told." 

"Ortiz,  I  think  you  are  right;  but  we  must  not 
let  him  know  even  these  suspicions ;  nor  need  he 
know  the  boats  await  us  at  the  coast.  More,  swear 
to  me,  now,  that  none  of  the  army  shall  know  the 
secret  I  have  told  you.  Let  it  die  with  you,  or,  bet 
ter  live  with  you,  if  God  so  wills  that  you  shall 
return  to  far-off  Spain.  Let's  now  steal  a  few 
hours'  needed  sleep.  Rest  here  to-night,  my  man. 
You  need  not  go.  Lie  down,  sleep,  you  surely  need 
it." 

Ortiz  was  soon  in  the  "land  of  Nod" ;  not  so  de 
Soto.  That  night  refreshing  sleep  would  not  favor 
the  great  Adelantado.  He  was  greatly  dejected. 
He  talked  to  himself  as  Ortiz  slept. 

"No,  I  will  not  tell  my  cavaliers  this  news  I  have 
thus  strangely  received.  They,  one  and  all,  will 
desert  me.  No,  I  thought  too  quickly.  Not  all  will 
leave  me.  Many  of  my  bravest  and  most  beloved 
are  already  gone.  Is  not  Don  Carlos  among  the 
slain  and  the  well-beloved  Diego?  Their  departure 
was  not  ignoble.  Juan  Gaytan,  however,  would  play 
the  coward,  would  run.  From  what  I  heard  this 
night  he  might  even  become  a  rebel,  take  my  ships, 
and  spread  the  news  that  my  expedition  had  failed, 
and  he  alone  and  his  favorites  could  escape  from 
the  terrors  of  the  forest.  No,  none  of  these  men 
shall  have  the  chance  thus  to  outwit  me  and  sail 
away  unbidden  guests  of  my  ships.  Then,  what 
messages  will  they  take  to  Cuba,  and  thence  to 
Spain?  My  wealth,  my  honor,  my  life  itself  have 


140  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

I  staked  on  this  undertaking.  These  men  shall  not 
know  of  those  vessels  which  await.  We  will  press 
on,  and  the  gold  will  yet  be  found.  Then  with  our 
riches  we  shall  return  at  length,  and  I  will  at  that 
time  tell  them  all  and  they  will  give  me  thanks  for 
these  days  of  silence.  Ortiz  will  keep  this  secret, 
I  am  assured." 

The  morning  broke  upon  the  resting  place  of  the 
Governor.  It  found  the  wearied  soldiers  asleep. 
All  night  long  he  had  meditated  and  muttered  to 
himself;  and  with  the  break  of  day  sweet  sleep,  like 
a  tender  nurse,  soothed  his  troubled  soul.  But  his 
rest  was  soon  broken  and  he  went  about  his  work; 
but  from  that  day  de  Soto  was  a  changed  man. 
Phillipe  met  him  as  he  passed  the  "Church,"  as  the 
men  called  the  lodging  place  of  the  company  of 
priests  and  friars  who  were  numbered  among  the 
company.  He  hailed  the  Governor.  "Your  majesty, 
I  would  like  to  speak  with  you  a  moment."  The 
Governor  seemed  not  to  hear  him,  but  went  on  his 
way  as  one  whose  thoughts  were  afar  off.  And  so 
it  was,  thoughts  of  colonization  now  filled  the  mind 
of  the  Adelantado;  but  this  was  not  the  only  rea 
son  for  his  absentmindedness. 

The  great  man,  by  what  he  heard  that  night,  had 
lost  confidence  in  his  followers.  Muscoso  found  it 
so,  and  Gaytan,  the  treasurer  was  certain  of  their 
commander's  coolness.  Instead  of  manifesting  his 
usual  frankness,  he  became  moody,  irritable,  a  dis 
contented  man.  He  seemed  to  have  been  robbed, 
in  a  day,  of  his  energy  and  ambition.  He  was  stung 
with  secret  disappointment.  Juan  de  Leon  talked 


"THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION"  141 

with  Ortiz  of  the  Governor's  changed  appearance 
and  behavior. 

"I  think  I  understand  our  brave  de  Soto's  mal 
ady,"  he  said.  "His  proud  spirit  is  somewhat 
broken ;  but  yet  it  will  not  yield.  Even  if  he  would 
return,  what  a  sad  spectacle  we  ragged  and  penni 
less  cavaliers  would  present!  A  man  of  our  Gov 
ernor's  mould  could  not  endure  such  poverty  and 
humiliation  after  the  taste  of  wealth  and  popularity 
he  has  enjoyed.  No,  he  must  succeed  or  die.  Gold 
to  him  is  more  precious  than  life ;  and  disgrace  is 
worse  than  death." 

Thus  the  man  of  iron  will  came  to  the  desperate 
decision  of  heading  off  his  mutinous  men  by  refus 
ing  even  to  inform  them  about  the  ships  which 
brought  recruits  and  provisions.  Turning  north 
ward  he  would  plunge  into  the  wilderness  again. 

Thus  the  suffering  soldiers  eyed  their  commander. 
Thus  also  he  watched  them;  and  none,  save  Ortiz, 
knew  of  the  actual  coming  of  the  Spanish  ships  at 
Pensacola.  Thus  the  blissful  vision  passed.  The 
army  wearied  with  war  and  incessant  marches  was 
doomed  yet  longer  to  battle,  and  further  to  march 
until  it  reached  the  southern  coast  where  no  waiting 
ships  would  meet  them. 

The  mystery  of  the  vanished  Leonora  had  not 
been  solved.  Juan  did  not  hear  the  story  of  the 
white  maiden  who  had  come  to  the  ships,  as  the  In 
dian  captive  said.  Even  de  Soto,  had  he  given  the 
incident  a  moment's  thought,  could  not  say  that  the 
woman  was  the  girl  who  so  lovingly  waved  to  de 
Leon  from  the  Havana  shores;  and  whom  the  man 


142  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

sought  so  longingly.  What  time  Juan  gave  to  re 
flection  on  the  subject  was  soon  carried  away  by 
another  call  to  arms,  or  some  strenuous  summons 
to  duty.  He  pictured  Leonora,  perhaps,  returned 
to  Spain,  or  living  somewhere  in  Mexico,  perhaps 
a  captive  against  her  will,  or,  it  may  be,  death  had 
claimed  her  as  his  own.  De  Leon  did  not  know. 
Therefore  he  sought  to  clear  his  mind  of  the  sweet 
vision  which  so  often  haunted  him.  He  plunged 
once  more  into  the  rigors  of  the  trying  campaign. 
He  sipped  what  honest  pleasure  he  could  along  the 
way;  not,  however,  like  the  careless  Rodrique  Go 
mez,  who  gambled  and  forgot  the  comforts  of  his 
home  in  Spain,  and  contented  himself  with  the 
companionship  of  his  Indian  slave  Ulia. 

Juan  sought  forgetfulness  in  urging  on  the  expe 
dition.  "There  is  nothing  else  to  do,"  he  said.  "The 
Governor,  however,  seems  to  have  forgotten  in  sad 
fashion.  He  has  forgotten  the  homeland  and  his 
former  splendor,  now  departed.  He  has  forgotten 
even  the  faithful  Isabel  who  longs  for  him  in  Cuba. 
We  who  last  visited  that  island  brought  him  those 
messages  of  loving  devotion  and  earnest  pleadings 
that  he  returned  to  her;  but  the  once  grand  Span 
iard  is  no  longer  himself.  Those  two  fair-formed 
Indian  slaves  of  his  seem  to  content  him  in  his  loss 
of  Isabel.  I  think  it  is  true  as  Ortiz  says,  the  great 
man  has  broken  with  his  past,  the  ties  of  home-life 
as  well  as  those  of  country.  He  simply  plunges 
forward  without  purpose  or  ambition."  Thus  sadly 
and  wearily  the  army  turned  again  to  resume  its 
journey  through  the  unexplored  forest.  "The 
march,"  as  the  historian  tells  us,  "from  this  day  was 


"THE  FORBIDDEN  VISION"  143 

aimless  and  almost  hopeless.  They  wandered  from 
place  to  place,  caring  little  whither  they  went.  The 
army  was  without  tents  or  baggage.  Their  clothing 
had  turned  to  rags,  and  they  dressed  themselves  in 
skins.  Through  illness  and  incessant  fighting  with 
the  Indians,  their  numbers  were  constantly  decreas 
ing.  But  few  of  their  horses  remained,  and  most  of 
the  men  traveled  on  foot."  Thus  they  moved  on 
with  crushed  hope1:  of  conquest  and  forbidden  de 
sires  for  home  and  country. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 
"THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN/' 

"The  men  must  die.  I  cannot  pardon  this  offense. 
The  act  was  wanton,  accompanied  by  force.  It  has 
greatly  aroused  the  natives,  I  am  told.  For  this 
same  sort  of  crime,  but  yesterday,  we  shot  to  death 
two  natives,  and,  mutilating  a  third,  sent  him  back 
as  an  example  and  warning  to  the  rest  of  the  tribe. 
If  we  deal  thus  with  the  savages  who  steal,  cer 
tainly  we  are  compelled  to  treat  the  white  men  in 
similar  fashion."  These  were  the  words  of  the 
Governor,  and  they  were  spoken  in  all  fairness; 
but  the  priests  and  the  officers  of  the  army  pleaded 
for  the  men  and  Ortiz  also  made  bold  to  speak 
in  extenuation. 

"Perhaps  the  Governor  will  mitigate  the  sentence 
of  these  our  comrades  in  arms,"  he  ventured.  "I 
pray  that  Osorio  and  the  brave  Gomez  shall  not  be 
put  to  death." 

"The  men  have  provoked  trouble  with  the  In 
dians,"  said  the  Governor.  "The  Chief  feels  ag 
grieved,  and  will  vent  his  anger  on  us  all,  unless 
in  some  way  we  make  amends." 

Then  the  conversation  turned  to  what  the  white 
men  had  suffered  from  the  lurking,  thieving  Indians 
about  the  camp. 

"Three  warriors  were  lurking  about  the  camp 
last  night,"  remarked  de  Leon.  "In  the  moonlight 
I  saw  them.  The  rustle  of  the  leaves,  the  crack- 


"THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN"     145 

ling  of  the  underbrush  caught  my  ear  as  I  stood 
on  guard,"  Juan  continued.  "They  pry  about  our 
sleeping  places  for  no  good  purpose.  I  had  in  mind 
to  rouse  the  camp ;  but  said  to  myself,  'I  shall  wait 
and  see.'  Just  then  the  moonlight  fell  upon  the  face 
of  the  leader  of  the  three,  and  as  I  looked  more  care 
fully  at  his  features,  I  knew  I  had  seen  the  man 
before.  Behold,  it  was  none  other  than  that  same 
Tachuco,  who,  I  believe,  and  have  always  held,  has 
followed  us  all  the  way,  and  stirred  up  against  us 
the  hatred  of  every  tribe  through  whose  province 
we  have  passed.  Believe  me,  my  noble  commander, 
he  now  seeks  occasion  against  us,  and  urges  this 
cacique  to  seek  revenge  for  some  real  or  fancied 
wrong." 

The  Governor  laughed,  then  said :  "My  good  de 
Leon,  I  have  heard  before  from  your  lips  of  this 
bad  Indian ;  this  evil  genius  of  our  expedition,  as 
you  suppose.  No,  no,  my  boy ;  we  left  Tachuco  at 
the  coast.  The  Indians  are  like  our  colored  slaves. 
They  all  look  alike,  it  seems  to  me.  This  ever- 
present  Tachuco  is  simply  some  red  brother  who 
resembles  the  prisoner  we  lost  on  our  first  landing. 
Next  time,  Juan,  capture  the  sly  fellow  and  bring 
him  to  me.  Then,  seeing  him  with  my  own  eyes,  I 
shall  believe." 

So  the  Governor  placed  no  credence  in  the  oft- 
repeated  assertion  of  de  Leon  and  others  of  the 
company  that  the  threats  of  the  Indian  who  strug 
gled  with  Rodrique  for  the  necklace,  who  roused  the 
gay  party  at  the  Count's  palace  at  Gomera,  who 
slew  the  Negro  Estivanico,  had  been  carried  out. 
In  short,  that  Tachuco  had  pursued  the  company 


146  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

from  their  landing  at  the  coast  and  was  that  very 
moment  among  their  enemies  without  the  camp, 
stirring  up  strife  and  deadly  hate. 

"It  will  not  help  much  to  sacrifice  these  white 
men.  The  cacique  will  still  wage  war  against  us. 
Their  deaths  will  not  appease  his  wrath.  It  will  not 
stop  his  preparations  for  war,"  said  the  priest  Bar- 
bidilla.  "Let  me  urge  the  worthy  commander  to 
spare  these  men." 

In  spite  of  such  earnest  supplications  de  Soto  was 
obdurate.  He  simply  said :  "I  leave  you  now,  and 
expect  the  sentence  of  death  to  be  executed." 

As  he  finished  the  sentence,  messengers  from  the 
injured  cacique  reached  the  scene.  Ortiz  as  inter 
preter  interviewed  the  men,  while  his  commander 
awaited  several  rods  away  to  learn  the  meaning  of 
their  coming.  What  passed  between  them  de  Soto 
did  not  know.  Observing  the  manner  of  the  men  he 
scented  hostilities.  Growing  impatient  at  the 
thought  of  another  conflict,  he  passed  on  to  his  quar 
ters,  telling  Ortiz  to  bring  him  information  of  the 
embassy. 

The  message  of  the  cacique  demanded  recompense 
of  some  sort;  at  least  the  punishment  of  the  offend 
ers  by  death.  The  fate  of  the  men  seemed  sealed. 
Now  there  could  be  no  escape ;  but,  suddenly,  Ortiz 
grew  pensive.  "The  Governor  is  gone,"  he  said. 
"Now,  Muscoso,  we  can  settle  this  matter  among 
ourselves.  We  shall  disregard  the  message  of  this 
cacique.  We  can  tell  these  messengers  the  White 
Chief  will  put  the  culprits  to  death.  This  will  sat 
isfy." 

So,  turning  to  the  waiting  Indians,  Ortiz  said: 


"THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN"     147 

"Go,  tell  your  chief  that  these  men  will  at  once  be 
punished  as  he  demands/'  and  the  messengers  de 
parted  apparently  appeased.  "But  what  shall  I  now 
tell  de  Soto?"  queried  Ortiz  of  Muscoso. 

"Tell  him,"  came  the  reply,  "that  the  cacique  has 
sent  these  Indians  to  say  the  soldiers  were  not 
guilty  and  had  in  no  wise  offended  him  and  that 
he  would  consider  it  a  great  favor  if  they  were 
pardoned  and  set  at  liberty." 

Immediately  the  false  interpretation  of  the  com 
plaints  of  the  indignant  chieftain  was  carried  to  de 
Soto,  and  the  criminals  were  pardoned. 

This  diplomatic  move  did  not  suffice  to  stop  hos 
tilities.  Already  in  the  forest  round  about  the  war 
riors  swarmed.  A  dozen  braves  approached  the 
camp  in  hostile  demonstration.  An  equal  number  of 
cavaliers  started  in  pursuit,  and  the  redskins  were 
quickly  overtaken.  None  at  that  time  showed  fight, 
save  one,  who  hurled  an  arrow  at  Juan  de  Leon, 
upon  his  coming,  then  fled  precipitately  into  the 
wilderness  with  the  assailed  white  man  close  upon 
him.  He  ran  like  an  escaping  deer.  On  through  the 
winding  forest  pathway  the  hot  chase  led.  The 
creatures  of  the  wood  startled  as  the  men  crashed 
on  their  way ;  but  the  hunted  and  the  pursuer  heard 
them  not.  On,  on  they  sped,  leaving  the  company 
of  knights  far  in  the  rear. 

"De  Leon  can  take  care  of  himself  with  but  one 
Indian  to  fight,"  tliey  said.  So  they  followed  slow 
ly.  The  road  stopped  suddenly.  A  high  bluff  ap 
peared,  and  below  it  a  gully  ran  off  for  twenty  rods, 
steep  and  rocky.  It  had  once  been  the  bed  of  a  small 
flowing  stream.  The  Indian  leaped  forward,  then 


148  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

downward,  and  disappeared,  as  though  the  earth  had 
opened  to  receive  him.  The  knight  with  impatience 
checked  his  horse.  Turning  back  fifty  rods  he 
found  another  trail  which,  after  a  few  moments  of 
hard  riding,  brought  him  to  the  spot  where  the  sav 
age  had  plunged  down  the  bluff. 

The  two  men  were  now  face  to  face.  The  red 
man,  bruised  by  his  fall,  sought  to  recover  himself. 
He  had  risen  slowly,  limping,  and  carrying  by  his 
side  his  bruised  right  hand.  He  looked  about  him 
and  saw  his  several  weapons,  scattered  broadcast, 
where  he  fell  and  rolled  along  the  rocky  stream  bed. 
Each  of  the  combatants  rested  momentarily — the 
Indian  on  foot,  thinking  to  gather  up  his  bow  and 
arrows,  if  possible ;  the  knight  on  horseback,  with 
sword  ready  to  strike.  A  look  of  recognition  passed 
between  the  men. 

"Tachuco !"  cried  Juan. 

The  Indian  was  silent,  and  as  calm  as  the  face 
of  mother  earth  before  a  storm.  The  panting  horse 
was  close  upon  him ;  yet  he  moved  not,  nor  seemed 
to  fear.  With  a  single  blow  the  rushing  knight 
might  have  hewn  the  defenseless  man  in  twain ;  but 
something  stayed  his  hand.  Perhaps  it  was  com 
passion  on  a  helpless  foe.  It  does  not  please  a 
strong,  brave  soul  to  strike  a  man  who  is  down. 
Perhaps  it  was  curiosity,  on  Juan's  part,  to  learn  the 
full  story  of  Tachuco's  long  trail  of  organized  hatred 
toward  the  white  man.  He  seemed  to  meditate  and 
ask  himself  how  long  the  Indian  had  tracked  the 
army,  how  much  havoc  he  had  brought  upon  the  ex 
pedition.  Perhaps  de  Leon  paused  that  he  might 
secure  Tachuco  as  a  placid  prisoner ;  but  as  he  thus 


"THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN"     149 

pondered,  the  Indian  sought  his  weapons,  and  simul 
taneously  hurled  defiance  at  the  horseman.  The 
Spaniard  dashed  upon  him,  smote  him  to  the  ground, 
did  not  wound  him,  as  he  might  have  done. 

"Speak,  Indian,"  he  said.  "Tell  me.  Did  I  not 
see  you  at  the  storming  of  the  walls  of  Mauvilla? 
Did  I  not  catch  sight  of  your  face  last  night  as  I 
stood  on  guard?  Tell  me,  how  long  have  your 
wandering  feet  followed  the  white  man's  footsteps  ?" 

Tachuco  answered  slowly,  as  though  many  days 
of  anger  surged  within  him,  and  could  not  find  ex 
pression. 

"Since  first  I  met  the  white  men  I  vowed  to  give 
them  naught  but  hatred,"  he  said.  "I  love  to  hate 
the  whole  detested  brood.  Your  race  has  brought 
me  trouble.  It  has  slain  my  people  and  robbed  me 
of  my  home.  For  many  moons  I  have  skirted  about 
your  traveling  band  of  armed  robbers,  and  I  have 
passed  on  ahead  of  you,  from  tribe  to  tribe,  to  warn 
new  nations  of  the  white  men  who  come  to  bring 
them  woe.  I  know  you  search  for  gold.  My  people 
know  it,  and  one  and  all  have  sought  to  have  you 
pass  their  borders,  and  so  have  told  you  where  the 
yellow  metal  is  to  be  found,  not  in  their  domain, 
but  just  beyond.  Thank  Tachuco  for  the  many 
messages  you  have  received  of  gold  which  is  just 
beyond  you." 

The  Indian's  fire  ceased  not  its  fury.  His  tongue 
was  loosed  and  he  would  have  showered  more  of 
hate  upon  his  foe,  when  suddenly  both  men  turned 
toward  the  South.  Here  and  there  in  the  distance 
there  appeared  a  moving  speck  among  the  trees. 


150  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

The  Indian  spoke  again,  now  rather  in  conciliation. 
"De  Leon,"  he  said,  "you  have  spared  my  life.  Let 
me  now  spare  yours.  A  band  of  two  thousand 
bravest  of  my  tribe  now  follow  down  this  stream 
bed.  The  signs  are  not  wanting  that  before  the 
sun  has  settled  far  on  the  western  sky,  these  war 
riors  will  be  upon  you.  Leave  me.  Get  you  to  the 
village,  and  I  will  hold  them  back  until  you  are 
well  upon  your  way.  Then  we  shall  forget  that 
we  both  have  spared  the  other's  life." 

De  Leon  turned,  spurred  his  horse  and  was  gone, 
yet  glancing  back  a  moment,  he  seemed  to  see  forms 
of  a  dozen  savages  stealing  through  the  forests  to 
reach  the  curving  stream.  Finding  the  path  along 
which  he  and  Tachuco  hastened,  he  sought  his  com 
rades.  Seeing  them  not,  he  skirted  the  woods, 
for  a  mile  about  the  village  where  their  camp  was 
placed.  An  hour  passed ;  and  he  heard  the  familiar 
sound  of  stepping  horses,  and  with  joy  greeted  his 
comrades  in  arms.  His  story  was  quickly  told. 
Tachuco  was  now  no  longer  an  uncertain  vision, 
at  least  to  Juan,  and,  although  the  faces  of  his 
friends  betrayed  some  traces  of  unbelief;  yet  Juan 
knew  the  truth  at  last.  Along  their  trail  there  wan 
dered  an  evil  heart  of  hate.  It  went  before  them 
on  their  way  and  multiplied  a  thousandfold  until  it 
engulfed  them  in  one  vast  abyss  of  hatred. 

So  the  day  stole  on ;  and  in  its  aftermath  fol 
lowed  a  dark  and  cloudy  night.  The  north  wind 
swept  down  furiously  upon  the  village,  and  with  it 
a  fiercer  storm.  Under  cover  of  darkness  three 
bands  of  savages  approached  the  white  man's  camp 


"THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN"     151 

within  the  town.  Silently  the  three  red  columns 
pursued  their  march  of  expected  triumph.  At  mid 
night  they  had  advanced  within  a  hundred  paces 
of  the  sleeping  cavaliers,  and  the  sentinels  about  the 
camp  had  failed  to  see  them.  When  de  Soto  and 
his  men  were  in  their  deepest  sleep,  just  before  the 
morning  had  begun  to  dawn,  the  air  was  rent  with 
the  terrifying  war-whoop,  resounded  with  the  blasts 
of  conch  shells  and  re-echoed  with  the  rumbling  of 
wooden  drums,  as  the  savages  rushed  forward  like 
demons  to  the  assault. 

In  their  mad  rush  they  carried  blazing  torches, 
so  prepared  as  suddenly  to  rush  into  being,  and 
with  these  further  means  of  inspiring  terror  they 
plunged  among  the  sleeping  soldiers,  promising 
slaughter  and  conflagration.  The  sleepers  now  long 
used  to  sudden  attack  rubbed  sight  into  their  sleepy 
eyes,  caught  up  their  armor  and  weapons  and  sallied 
forth  for  life  or  death.  The  Governor,  sleeping  in 
his  doublet  and  hose,  as  was  his  wont,  in  ex 
pectation  of  hourly  trouble,  quickly  took  his  place 
at  the  head  of  his  men,  followed  closely  by  a  dozen 
horsemen,  equally  alert  for  sudden  approach  of  any 
foe. 

This  battle  was  an  evil  one.  The  fire  raged  about 
the  Spaniards.  Smoke  rolled  upon  them,  blinded 
them,  and  hindered  them  in  preparation  for  the  sud 
den  call  to  arms.  Again,  the  restless  horses  were 
not  easily  controlled.  Many  of  the  brave  beasts 
could  not  be  reached  in  time.  Some  dashed  away, 
riderless,  and  perished,  or  drove  at  length,  pell  mell, 
into  the  oncoming  band  of  red  warriors.  That  night 


152  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

was  unkind  to  the  white  men.  Fifty  soldiers  of  de 
Soto's  army  stampeded  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
the  village,  where  the  flames  raged  fiercely  and  the 
battle  was  hot.  The  half  hundred  men  in  their 
dismay"  fled  into  the  fields  as  if  in  flight  and  separa 
tion  from  the  camp  they  might  find  a  refuge.  Nuno 
Tobar  rushed  hastily  among  them,  sword  in  hand, 
his  coat-of-mail  left  unbuckled  in  his  haste.  "Turn 
soldiers,  turn!"  he  cried.  "Whither  are  you  fly 
ing?  Here  is  neither  Cordova  nor  Seville  to  give 
you  refuge.  Your  safety  lies  in  your  courage  and 
in  the  vigor  of  your  arms;  not  in  flight."  While 
he  thus  pleaded  with  the  maddened  fugitives,  thirty 
soldiers  from  another  portion  of  the  village  reached 
the  spot  and  intercepted  the  fugitives.  They  taunt 
ed  the  recreant  Spaniards  with  their  shameful  flight, 
and  thus  inducing  them  to  join  forces,  they  hastened 
together  to  renew  the  combat. 

When  thus  united  their  combined  force  could  not 
withstand  the  maddened  Indians.  The  impact  of 
the  rushing  savages  was  like  a  mighty  avalanche, 
which  must  expend  its  force  and  carry  everything 
before  it.  Thus  the  tide  of  plumed  warriors  swept 
on  until  two  dozen  chosen  cavaliers,  daring  horse 
men,  dashed  upon  the  scene.  These  fighting  men 
were  knights  who  had  seen  service  on  the  African 
frontier,  tried  fighters.  These  skilled  horsemen 
charged  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  just  in  the 
nick  of  time,  and  in  the  fury  of  their  assault,  forced 
the  savages  to  retire.  New  courage  then  seized  the 
Spanish  force.  They  fought  like  men,  de  Soto  in 
the  lead,  and  by  his  side  de  Leon,  Anasco  and  the 


"THE  ARCH-ENEMY  OVERTAKEN"     153 

rest,  as  brave  a  band  of  soldiers  as  ever  donned  the 
garb  of  war. 

Would  the  brave  deeds  of  the  noble  cavaliers  had 
been  expended  in  some  worthier  cause  than  that  of 
search  for  gold !  Had  these  sons  of  Spain  really 
desired  to  plant  a  colony  in  the  wilds  of  Florida, 
they  would  have  suffered  less ;  but  spurning  the  call 
to  settle  in  some  fertile  spot  and  found  a  white 
man's  city,  they  dashed  forward  in  confusion  and 
constant  warfare,  through  their  thirst  for  gold.  So 
again  the  conflict  raged  about  their  camping  place. 
Once  more  the  victory  was  the  white  man's ;  but  he 
bought  it  at  a  dreadful  price. 

The  battle  was  now  over.  The  Indians  were  dis 
appearing  in  the  dusk  of  the  early  morning.  The 
wounded  were  dragging  themselves  away,  the  sav 
age  to  his  native  haunts,  the  white  man  as  near  his 
camping  place  as  possible,  and  beneath  the  shelter 
of  that  which  he  called  his  tent.  The  recall  had 
been  sounded  by  de  Soto,  and  the  pursuing  troopers 
were  returning,  and  the  Governor  once  more,  after 
another  hard- fought  battle,  began  to  count  his  losses. 

"Forty  of  our  men  have  fallen  this  night,"  he 
said.  Among  the  slain  was  a  Spanish  woman,  the 
only  female  in  the  army,  a  brave  wife  who  dared  to 
follow  her  husband  through  the  new  land.  This 
white  woman  perished  in  the  flames  that  night;  and 
there  they  found  her  when  the  census  of  the  dead 
was  taken. 

"Fifty  horses,  also,  are  lost,"  the  Governor  said 
in  sadness. 

"The  swine  also  are  gone,"  remarked  Muscoso, 


154  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

captain   of   the   camp.      "Our   projected    settlement 
now  will  miss  this  live  stock." 

As  Muscoso  spoke  there  lay  before  the  Spanish 
cavaliers  the  ruins  of  the  once  straw-thatched  en 
closure  which  contained  the  swine ;  but  the  occu 
pants  had  perished  in  the  flames.  So  intent  were  the 
Spaniards  in  counting  their  losses  that  they  failed 
to  see  a  dark  figure  pass  about  their  camp,  so  near 
that  an  arrow  could  have  reached  him.  It  was 
Tachuco.  He  heard  the  Governor  lament  his  loss, 
and  chuckled  with  fiendish  glee.  He  listened  to  the 
words  of  reproach,  heaped  upon  Muscoso,  for  im 
perfectly  guarding  the  camp  that  night ;  and,  paused 
awhile  to  catch  the  words  of  condemnation,  when 
de  Soto  deposed  Muscoso  from  his  post  of  master- 
of-the-camp.  Had  Juan  de  Leon  turned  again  de 
Soto  would  have  called  him  mad ;  for  once  more 
would  he  have  reported  having  seen  the  bad  Indian, 
Tachuco,  arch-enemy  of  that  famous  search  for 
gold. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
"THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR." 

Even  in  the  wilderness  rumor  steals  its  quiet  way. 
It  travels  like  the  wind,  and  like  the  wind,  "you 
cannot  tell  whence  it  cometh  or  whither  it  goeth." 
Thus  the  rumor  about  the  ships  at  Pensacola  had 
traveled  far  and  wide.  The  tribes  along  the  Gulf 
coast  had  passed  it  on ;  and  the  natives  up  and  down 
the  Mississippi  heard  of  the  waiting  vessels.  De 
Soto  sought  to  stop  the  information  reaching  camp, 
and  when  it  came,  he  silenced  it  at  once.  Only  he 
himself  and  Ortiz  knew,  and  Ortiz  was  pledged  to 
secrecy. 

But  rumor  is  a  fiery  thing.  It  will  even  burn  its 
way  through  iron-bound  secrecy ;  and  so  at  last  it 
worked  persistently  to  the  ears  of  de  Soto's  fol 
lowers.  Muscoso  knew  it,  Anasco  also  and  Juan 
Gaytan,  the  treasurer.  Rodrique  Gomez  heard  it 
also,  and  so  did  Juan  de  Leon  and  the  rest  of  the 
cavaliers.  Some  listened  with  displeasure,  a  few 
with  indifference,  even  satisfaction,  and  some  re 
ceived  the  news  with  anger,  among  them  the  treas 
urer,  Gaytan,  whose  voice  was  heard  in  loud  com 
plaint.  But  the  time  was  long  past,  the  soldiers  felt, 
to  meet  the  ships.  They  had  long  ago  left  port. 
Perhaps  had  returned  to  Cuba  or  Spain.  The 
thought  of  escaping  by  the  vessels  was,  therefore, 
completely  abandoned  by  the  rebellious  members  of 


156  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  company.  They  could  complain,  however,  and 
this  they  did.  They  murmured;  and  still  withal, 
pressed  on,  whither,  they  knew  not. 

Through  manifold  trials  and  vicissitudes  the  army 
passed.  After  days  of  marching  and  nights  of  keep 
ing  guard,  their  eyes  at  length  beheld  that  river, 
the  sight  of  which  has  made  their  expedition  famous 
in  history.  It  was  the  great  Mississippi,  that  ma 
jestic  current,  a  mile  and  a  half  in  width.  They 
watched  it  sweeping  by,  that  "Father  of  waters," 
bearing  upon  its  breast  trees  and  logs  and  islands  of 
driftwood  as  it  had  for  ages  unknown.  They  called 
it  the  Rio  Grande,  and  proceeded  to  cross,  still 
cheered  on  by  hope  of  gold. 

Four  barges  were  built  by  the  river  banks.  In 
these  the  Spanish  army  finally  crossed  the  mighty 
stream;  but  not  without  contention.  All  along  the 
road  from  the  ocean  to  the  Mississippi  they  were 
compelled  to  fight  their  way,  and  so  at  the  crossing 
of  the  great  river  further  display  of  opposition  did 
not  surprise  them. 

"A  pretty  sight,  Ortiz.  See  how  gracefully  the 
crowded  canoes  draw  near  the  shore." 

"They  must  number  full  two  hundred,  Juan,  and 
must  contain  a  thousand  warriors.  But  do  they 
come  for  peace  or  for  war?  I  suppose  the  Gov 
ernor  will  take  no  chances  and  presume  their  com 
ing  is  for  battle." 

"Surely  not,"  said  de  Leon,  "for  they  bring  us 
fish  and  fruit  and  bread.  They  would  thus  wel 
come  us  and  do  us  homage.  See,  they  are  about  to 
land.  No,  no,  they  hesitate." 


"THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR"        157 

This  spirit  of  halting  was  fatal  to  the  fleet  of 
Indian  ships. 

"The  Governor  calls  to  them  to  land,  Ortiz,  does 
he  not?" 

"Yes,  but  they  seem  in  confusion.  Our  com 
mander  will  look  upon  this  move  as  a  signal  for 
hostilities.  Yes,  the  order  is  given  to  fire." 

The  words  had  hardly  passed  his  lips  before  the 
cross-bow  men  let  fly  their  arrows.  Six  men  fell 
forward  in  the  tiny  ships  of  war  as  the  fleet  retreated 
quickly,  yet  in  good  order.  Thus  the  enemy  was 
for  a  season  driven  back. 

At  the  end  of  twenty  days  the  four  newly  made 
boats  of  the  Spaniards  were  launched,  and  before 
the  dawn  of  day  each  vessel  was  manned  with  four 
troopers  of  tried  courage,  and  two  hours  before  the 
sun  went  down  the  whole  army  had  crossed  over. 
The  month  of  May  had  come,  and  the  Spanish  sol 
diers  forgot  the  hard  winter  through  which  they 
had  passed.  They  found  themselves  in  a  fertile 
country,  and  sought  the  friendship  of  the  people 
through  whose  land  they  passed ;  yet  they  found  but 
little  peace. 

"Even  our  friends  among  these  tribes  make  us 
allies,  simply  to  use  us  in  battle  with  their  enemies," 
remarked  de  Leon  one  day. 

The  man  was  right.  An  Indian  chieftain  named 
Casquin  before  long  appeared.  He  came  with  suit 
able  and  sumptuous  presents  for  de  Soto  and  his 
men.  The  treasurer,  Gaytan,  looked  pleased,  and 
Muscoso,  captain-of-the-camp,  also  rejoiced;  but 
Ortiz  and  de  Leon  did  not  rejoice.  "It  is  another 


158  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

payment  for  our  brave  men  to  risk  their  lives  and 
jeopardize  the  expedition,"  they  said. 

True  to  this  prophecy,  the  Spaniards  were  quick 
ly  embroiled  by  their  allies  into  a  dangerous  posi 
tion.  They  fought  upon  an  island  whither  Capaha, 
an  old-time  enemy  of  Casquin,  the  latest  ally  of  the 
Spaniards  had  withdrawn.  The  followers  of  Cas 
quin  were  in  the  lead  with  the  Spaniards  bringing 
up  the  rear;  but  Casquin's  men  were  fearful  fight 
ers  and  came  like  a  rushing  hurricane  upon  their 
foes.  The  Spaniard's  Indian  friends  were  quickly 
worsted ;  and  even  the  cavaliers  themselves,  placed 
as  they  were  upon  the  defensive,  were  in  great  dan 
ger  and  were  saved,  as  by  a  miracle,  in  the  strange 
withdrawal  of  the  besieged  Capaha. 

"We  are  delivered  once  more,  Phillipe.  Did  you 
not  see  how  our  men  were  saved  in  the  hour  of 
their  extremity?  Why,  the  mighty  Capaha  ceased 
to  fight  at  that  time  when  he  could  have  brought 
destruction  upon  our  cavaliers,  I  cannot  tell,  ex 
cept  the  Dear  Lord,  that  moment,  held  him  back." 

"Yes,  Barbidilla,  we  are  once  more  delivered, 
but  only  to  fight  again  before  many  days  have 
passed.  We  thus  fight  our  way  and  find  no  gain. 
We  have  not  yet  discovered  any  gold.  I  verily  be 
lieve  that  tale  de  Leon  tells,  how  an  evil  genius 
follows  our  army,  leads  the  tribes  against  us,  and 
teaches  them  to  give  the  information  'gold  is  just 
beyond.'  We  surely  seem  to  have  been  chasing 
phantoms  and  wandering  like  useless  dreamers.  I 
don't  wonder  some  of  our  men  complain.  Here 


"THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR"        159 

comes  Juan  Gaytan.  Let  us  hear  what  he  has  to 
say." 

As  Gaytan  approached,  the  priests  accosted  him. 
"Let's  walk  together,"  they  said.  Then  the  two 
men  of  the  Church  and  the  treasurer  of  the  army 
passed  through  the  camp,  and,  as  they  went,  they 
talked. 

"Yes,  I  protest  against  this  useless  search  where 
in  no  sign  of  gold  has  come  to  us.  We  have  seen 
some  copper;  but,  we  seek  gold.  Better  would  it 
have  been  for  us  to  have  gone  to  Peru  or  Mexico. 
Yes,  even  if  the  Governor  does  hear  me,  I  shall 
complain." 

"Hush,  Gaytan,  we  are  now  passing  the  Gov 
ernor's  tent." 

This  fact  the  grumbling  treasurer  soon  discov 
ered  to  his  discomfiture,  for  de  Soto  sallied  forth. 
The  three  men  quickly  disappeared,  the  priests  hur 
rying  to  their  quarters ;  Gaytan  to  his,  feeling  guil 
ty.  His  guilt  was  more  than  that  of  troublesome 
complaining.  That  very  night  he  had  refused  to 
patrol  the  post  assigned  to  him,  giving  his  official 
position  as  excuse.  The  fact  of  his  insubordination 
had  reached  the  Governor's  ears ;  and  when,  in  ad 
dition,  rebellious  words  passed  through  the  camp 
that  night  and  into  the  Governor's  tent,  de  Soto 
could  no  longer  restrain  himself.  Emerging  from 
his  resting  place  he  cried  that  all  could  hear,  even 
those  who  slept  were  rudely  awakened  with  the  en 
raged  man's  resounding  voice. 

"What  is  this,  soldiers  and  captains?"  he  cried. 
"Do  the  mutineers  still  live,  who,  when  in  Mauvilla, 


160  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

talked  of  returning  to  Spain  or  Mexico?  and  do 
they  now,  with  the  excuse  of  being  officers  of  the 
royal  retinue,  refuse  to  patrol  the  four  hours  that 
fall  to  their  share?  Why  do  you  desire  to  return 
to  Spain?  Have  you  left  any  hereditary  estates 
that  you  wish  to  enjoy?  Why  do  you  wish  to  go 
to  Mexico  to  prove  the  baneness  and  pusillanimity 
of  your  spirits?  That,  having  it  in  your  power  to 
become  chieftains  in  a  vast  and  noble  country  you 
have  discovered,  you  preferred  living  as  dependents 
in  a  stranger's  house,  with  no  table  of  your  own ! 
What  honor  will  this  confer  upon  you?  Shame — 
shame  on  you!  blush  for  yourselves,  and  recollect 
that,  officers  of  the  royal  treasury  or  not,  you  must 
all  serve  your  sovereign !  Presume  not  upon  any 
rank  you  may  possess ;  for,  be  he  who  he  may,  I 
will  take  off  the  head  of  that  man  who  refuses  to  do 
his  duty,  and,  to  undeceive  you,  know  that  whilst 
I  live  no  one  shall  leave  this  country  until  we  have 
conquered  and  settled  it." 

These  words,  uttered  in  great  rage,  showed  the 
moody  melancholia  of  the  Governor.  Gaytan's  voice 
thereafter  was  quiet  and  his  nightly  patrol  duty 
was  done  without  a  murmur.  Even  Phillipe,  the 
outspoken  and  honest  priest,  was  careful  about  his 
talk.  Muscoso  and  Anasco,  de  Leon  and  the  reck 
less  Gomez  were  most  punctilious  in  their  duties. 
So  when  the  cacique  Capaha,  with  a  train  of  one 
hundred  warriors,  marched  into  the  village,  they 
found  a  model  camp. 

The  village,  long  the  chieftain's  home,  had  been 
desecrated.  Most  pathetic  was  it  to  see  the  noble 


"THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR"        161 

savage,  a  young  man  of  twenty-six,  enter  the  town 
a  few  days  before  so  beautiful,  but  now  spoiled 
and  polluted  by  his  foes,  Casquin  and  his  cowardly 
band.  There  Capaha  beheld  with  suppressed  rage 
the  sepulchres  of  his  fathers  shamefully  wasted.  Or 
tiz  and  de  Leon  addressed  the  chief  as  he  ap 
proached.  They  saw  him  gather  up  the  scattered 
bones  of  his  father  and  his  father's  father  before 
him.  Tenderly  he  kissed  them  and  with  this  touch 
of  deep  reverence,  returned  them  to  their  coffins. 

"Chief,"  said  Ortiz,  "we  will  lead  you  and  your 
company  to  the  quarters  of  the  Governor." 

The  band  of  Indians  and  their  cacique  were  soon 
presented  to  the  white  commander.  Seated  side  by 
side  with  Casquin,  the  opposing  cacique  saluted  the 
Adelantado,  but  deigned  not  to  notice  the  Indian  by 
his  side.  The  Governor  embraced  him  as  a  friend. 
Likewise  the  officers  treated  him  most  honorably ; 
but  his  heart  was  evil  toward  the  offending  Indian 
chief  whom  yet  he  had  not  even  honored  with  a 
look  of  recognition.  Then  suddenly  turning  to  his 
rival  cacique,  he  spoke  in  rising  anger.  Ortiz  lis 
tened  to  his  words  and  translated  them  for  the  Gov 
ernor. 

Thus  he  spoke :  "Doubtless,  Casquin,  you  exult  in 
having  revenged  your  past  defeats;  a  thing  you 
could  never  have  hoped  or  effected  through  your 
own  forces.  You  may  thank  these  strangers  for  it. 
They  will  go,  but  we  shall  remain  in  your  own  coun 
try  as  we  were  before.  Pray  to  the  sun  and  moon 
to  send  us  good  weather,  then.  .  .  ." 

At  Ortiz'  explanation  of  Capaha's  words  Juan 


162  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

took  up  the  conversation,  speaking  somewhat  aside 
until  the  troubled  waters  had  subsided.  "Some  one 
will  see  evil  days  when  we  depart,"  he  said.  Then 
turning  further  aside,  that  de  Soto  should  not  hear, 
he  added :  "But  I  fancy  the  Indian  deserves  it.  Look 
at  him,  Ortiz.  He's  a  coward.  His  presents  of 
fish  with  mantles  and  skins  of  various  kinds  have 
not  appeased  the  Governor  for  his  cowardice  in  that 
island  battle.  The  gift  of  his  daughter  to  de  Soto 
as  a  hand-maid  may  for  a  time  assuage  the  Adel- 
antado's  longing  for  the  fair  Isabel ;  but,  look  now, 
it's  a  fact,  this  Indian  chief  is  not  admired  in  our 
camp." 

The  worst  enemies,  however,  may  for  a  time  live 
on  terms  of  friendliness.  So  at  the  earnest  solici 
tation  of  de  Soto  the  two  enemies  repressed  their 
wrathful  feelings,  embraced  each  other  and  all  sat 
down  to  dine.  Occasional  glances,  portends  of  a 
coming  storm  passed  between  the  chieftains ;  but 
the  prepared  feast  passed  on  without  an  outbreak 
of  hostilities.  It  was  a  royal  supper.  Two  Indian 
kings  were  there,  surrounded  by  their  courtiers.  De 
Soto,  a  mighty  sovereign  in  the  estimation  of  his 
guests,  sat  in  his  chair  of  state,  about  him  grouped 
the  noblest  and  bravest  of  his  men.  They  talked  of 
their  various  territories,  describing  their  lands  and 
defining  their  borders.  From  the  white  chief  they 
learned  of  Spain  and  the  great  countries,  far  across 
the  sea,  to  the  East,  while  in  wonder  the  tribesmen 
listened. 

"Ortiz,"  said  the  Governor,  "as  the  feast  drew  to 
a  close,  do  I  understand  this  cacique  Capaha?  He 


"THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR"        163 

gives,  does  he,  these  two  fair-formed  women  to  join 
my  household?" 

"True,  Governor,"  replied  Ortiz. 

The  women  were  led  away.  "The  Governor  was 
persuaded,"  so  the  condoning  historian  writes,  "to 
receive  them  under  his  protection."  To  the  quar 
ters  of  the  Governor  they  were  led,  these  handsome 
and  well-shaped  Indian  damsels.  Ortiz  and  Juan 
took  them  to  their  abiding  place.  On  the  way  they 
talked  and  their  words  burned  with  strong  interest 
in  the  heart  of  Juan  de  Leon.  After  the  two  men 
left  them  at  the  entrance  of  de  Soto's  apartments 
Ortiz  related  to  Juan  what  Mancanoche,  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  women,  had  told  him. 

"Juan,"  he  said,  "this  Indian  maid  tells  a  most 
remarkable  story.  She  verifies  the  rumors  which 
have  passed  throughout  the  camp  about  the  ships 
which  waited  at  Pensacola." 

"It  must  then  be  true,  my  good  friend,"  responded 
Juan.  'Tis  well  the  soldiers  did  not  hear  it.  The 
repetition  of  that  lost  opportunity  to  flee  to  Spain, 
Mexico  or  Peru,  might  lead  to  further  rebellious 
feeling." 

"It  might,  Juan ;  but  let  me  tell  you  all  this  fair 
one  said.  She  told  me  that  which  in  part  I  had 
heard  before.  At  the  landing  of  those  ships  of 
which  the  rumor  tells  a  white  maid  approached  the 
Spanish  officers  and  urged  them  to  proceed  inland 
and  search  for  our  company,  taking  her  along.  She 
sought  some  one  among  our  number,  she  said,  and 
had  traveled  far  to  meet  the  ships,  for  she  possessed 
special  information  of  the  vessel's  movements  and 


164  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

of  de  Soto's  hope  of  reaching  the  ships  at  that  port." 

"Who  was  this  white  girl,  Ortiz  ?  Whom  did  she 
seek?" 

"Juan,  surely  you  are  as  well  equipped  to  answer 
such  questions  as  I  am.  But  I  have  not  told  you 
all." 

"Finish  that,  my  good  Ortiz.     Finish." 

"The  concluding  facts  are  these,"  the  response 
came.  "When  the  Spanish  commander  of  the  ships 
would  not  march  inland,  but  prepared  to  sail  away 
with  his  vessels,  then  that  daring  white  woman  her 
self,  alone,  turned  forestward.  Whither  she  went 
the  rumor  does  not  tell ;  but  simply  this,  she  plunged 
into  the  vast  wilderness  to  seek  alone,  if  so  she 
must,  the  men  of  our  company  and,  that  one  knight 
in  particular." 

"Leonora,  Leonora,"  gasped  Juan.  "How  much 
like  her !" 

"But,  hold,  Juan.    I  did  not  say  it  was  Leonora." 

"No,  true,  you  did  not.  Nor  did  I  say  it  was 
she,"  retorted  Juan.  "I  simply  said:  'How  much 
like  her.'  " 

Juan  de  Leon's  words  were  words  of  caution. 
"How  much  like  Leonora,"  he  said ;  but  in  his  heart 
he  groaned :  "Yes,  it  is  Leonora." 

Not  hearing  his  heart  language,  Ortiz  proceeded : 
"Further,  the  Indian  woman  showed  me  a  piece  of 
some  white  woman's  garment.  Perhaps  you  saw 
it.  It  once  was  white ;  but  long  since  had  it  become 
soiled  and  torn." 

"Yes,  Ortiz,  I  saw  the  woman  show  you  some 
thing,  but  did  not  give  attention  to  it." 


"THE  IRREPRESSIBLE  RUMOR"        165 

"Yes,  that  was  it,  Juan.  That  piece  of  white 
cloth  was  found  twenty  miles  south  of  Pensacola, 
and  other  garments  were  found.  The  woman  did 
not  tell  me  all,  but  she  said :  'Something  had  be 
fallen  that  daring  white  girl.' ': 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
"THE  FORLORN  HOPE." 

It  was  now  a  year  since  Juan  heard  the  rumor 
of  the  presence  of  the  ships  at  Pensacola.  During 
those  twelve  months  many  troubled  thoughts  passed 
through  his  mind.  The  rigors  of  the  campaign,  the 
further  search  for  gold,  the  words  of  Ortiz,  "Per 
haps,  the  wounded  white  girl  is  not  Leonora,"  could 
not  drive  away  the  deep  and  dismal  conviction  which 
had  seized  his  very  soul.  "So  much  like  her,"  he 
sighed. 

He  plunged  into  the  fastnesses  of  the  neighbor 
ing  region,  at  the  Governor's  behest,  in  search  of 
the  hidden  gold  they  sought.  He  returned  half  fam 
ished  and  unsuccessful.  The  same  soul-burden 
weighed  upon  him.  He  could  not  throw  it  off. 
"Leonora,  lost!  Worse  than  that,"  he  muttered. 
"Slain,  perhaps.  Who  knows  but  that  in  some  soli 
tary  waste  she  is  dragged  along,  a  captive,  a  slave 
girl,  beaten  into  submission." 

Then  he  thought  of  the  two  handsome  Indian 
maids  led  along  in  the  Governor's  retinue,  and  said : 
"Were  not  these  two,  Macanoche  and  Mochifa, 
princesses  among  their  own  people  ?  But  view  them 
now.  God  help  me  find  the  queenly  Leonora!" 
He  thought  of  the  plotting  Tachuco  and  his  brow 
was  clouded.  "Can  it  be  that  the  hand  of  that 
subtle  savage  herein  also  works  me  mischief?  Why 


"THE  FORLORN  HOPE"  167 

did  I  not  slay  him  that  day  I  had  him  at  my  mercy 
when  he  lay  bruised  beneath  my  horse's  feet?" 

Ortiz  sought  to  comfort  him,  but  all  in  vain.  The 
man's  thoughts  were  in  the  past,  and  his  vision  far 
away.  One  day  Ortiz  was  taken  ill,  and  de  Leon 
forgot  his  own  troubles  caring  for  the  man  who 
meant  so  much  to  the  entire  expedition.  De  Soto 
as  well  as  Juan  and  the  whole  army  loved  Juan  Or 
tiz.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  qualities ;  but  more, 
he  was  extremely  useful  for  intercourse  with  the 
many  tribes  and  diverse  tongues.  Ortiz  had  be 
come  a  skillful  medium  of  communication  between 
the  Spaniards  and  the  natives.  His  illness,  there 
fore,  was  of  serious  moment  to  .the  cavaliers  and 
soldiers. 

Juan  de  Leon  carefully  nursed  his  sick  com 
panion,  yet  the  man  grew  worse.  Those  days  of 
hardship,  when  first  captured,  told  upon  the  man 
in  later  years.  He  could  not  stand  the  strain  and 
stress  of  daily  conflict  and  privation.  A  fierce  fever 
was  upon  him.  It  would  not  down.  Memories  of 
the  past  enshrouded  him,  and  his  tongue  was  loosed, 
as  in  delirium.  He  spoke  of  his  capture  by  the  ugly 
chief.  He  shuddered  as  he  rehearsed  the  tale  of 
the  murder  of  his  three  companions,  and  his  voice 
trembled  as  he  mentioned  his  own  miraculous  es 
cape,  through  the  intervention  of  the  merciful  Ti- 
citia.  The  name  of  the  noble  Muscoso  brought  tears 
of  gratitude  to  his  eyes.  "We  shall  meet  again, 
brave  Muscoso;  and  thou,  too,  Ticitia,  now  Mus- 
coso's  gracious  queen,  and  you  also,  Juan,  so  kind 
of  you  to  watch  thus  by  my  side ;  but  I  cannot  stay. 


168  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

I  hear  a  voice  that  calls.  It  is  as  gentle  as  a  mother 
calling  to  her  babe.  It  speaks  in  confidence  and 
hope.  Juan,  I  now  have  peace.  The  battle  is  over. 
Farewell." 

They  laid  the  useful,  much  loved  Ortiz  away  in 
the  silence  of  the  forest,  where  so  long  he  wan 
dered.  Bathing  his  fresh-covered  mound  with 
tears,  they  hastened  away,  so  soon  to  forget.  Mem 
ory  was  a  faculty  not  much  indulged  by  de  Soto 
and  his  men.  It  seemed  to  lessen  their  ambition 
in  the  plans  of  conquest.  It  seemed  to  weaken  their 
search  for  gold.  Thought  of  home,  wife,  the  moth 
er  and  loved  ones  far  away,  were  banished  recol 
lections,  unwelcome  because  disturbing,  and  dis 
tressing  because  impossible  of  immediate  enjoyment. 
So,  drowning  their  sorrows,  the  army  pushed  on. 

"We've  lost  a  good  man,  Governor,"  remarked 
Juan  one  day  as  the  two  moved  about  the  camp. 

"I  tell  you,  de  Leon,  we  have.  Ortiz  can  never 
be  replaced.  It  now  takes  a  dozen  Indians  to  do 
what  our  old  interpreter  did ;  and  when  they  are 
done  I  cannot  understand  the  conversation  which 
has  just  taken  place.  Therefore,  misunderstand 
ings  arise  which  so  often  bring  us  into  conflict  with 
the  various  Indian  chiefs.  But,  see,  yonder.  What ! 
More  trouble  with  these  tribesmen?  I  have  tried 
so  long  to  preserve  peace;  but  cannot  pacify  them. 
All  I  desire,  now,  is  to  reach  the  ocean  on  the 
South.  I  now  see  my  error  in  not  coming  into 
touch  with  the  ships,  when  I  heard  they  waited 
some  word  from  me  at  Pensacola.  But,  run,  see 
if  help  is  needed  by  our  soldiers.  They  seem  to  be 


"THE  FORLORN  HOPE"  169 

in  difficulty  with  that  Indian.  Two  foot  soldiers 
and  three  horsemen,  however,  should  be  sufficient 
to  manage  one  red  skin." 

De  Leon  spurred  his  horse.  The  savage  had  a 
battle-axe,  one  he  had  found  about  the  camp.  He 
had  sought  to  carry  it  away  unnoticed;  but  when 
detected,  he  showed  fight  and  stood,  brandishing  the 
terrible  axe,  using  both  hands,  and  striking  like  a 
maniac,  yet  with  vigor  and  deadly  precision.  Thrice 
the  keen  edge  cleaved  the  air,  and  each  time  a  Span 
ish  soldier's  shield  was  broken.  The  brave  Indian 
took  his  stand  beneath  a  sheltering  oak.  Thus  sta 
tioned  the  horsemen  could  not  reach  him ;  and,  as 
the  driven  steed  approached,  the  axe  hurled  for 
ward,  struck  the  horse  across  the  shoulder  and 
laid  it  open  from  the  withers  to  the  knee,  and  it 
fell  a  helpless  mass  behind  which  the  savage  further 
strove. 

Then  Juan  came  to  the  attack.  He  was  just  be 
hind  another  knight,  Gonzalo  Silvestre  by  name. 
Silvestre  was  in  no  haste.  "The  Indian  is  out 
matched.  It  is  five  against  one,"  he  said,  as  he 
came  face  to  face  with  the  desperate  man.  The 
savage  by  this  time  was  much  elated  with  his  suc 
cesses.  Accordingly,  he  advanced  with  great  bold 
ness  to  receive  the  skillful  cavalier.  Repeatedly  the 
battle-axe  waved  high  in  air,  above  Silvestre's  head, 
and  descended ;  but  the  Spaniard  was  on  his  guard. 
In  its  descend  the  weapon  simply  glanced  across 
the  shield  and  became  imbedded  in  the  ground. 

It  was  now  an  unequal  contest.  The  sword  of 
the  knight  quickly  smote  the  savage  on  the  face. 


i7o  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

Again  it  struck  his  arm,  and  severed  his  wrist,  but 
the  battle  still  went  on.  Seizing  the  axe  between 
the  stump  and  his  other  hand,  with  a  desperate 
leap,  the  red  skin  made  an  attempt  to  wound  the 
Spaniard  in  the  face.  The  blow  was  skillfully 
turned  aside  and  Silvestre's  sword  cut  the  man 
across  the  waist,  passed  through  his  naked  body, 
and  the  brave  warrior  fell  dead,  cut  in  sunder. 

This  exciting  conflict  was  but  the  work  of  a  few 
moments ;  and  a  mere  incident  in  the  daily  routine 
of  that  wonderful  expedition  wherein  the  white 
man's  skill  and  ingenuity  was  pitted  against  the 
ignorance  and  childishness  of  the  man  of  the  Amer 
ican  forests.  De  Soto  listened  to  the  story  of  the 
fray,  and  then  forgot.  He  had  seen  too  much 
bloodshed  to  remember  such  affairs.  Moreover,  his 
mind  was  now  bent  on  reaching  the  great  river  he 
had  recently  discovered,  the  Mississippi.  He  would 
establish  there  some  fortified  post,  build  two  brig- 
antines,  in  which  some  of  his  most  confidential 
followers  might  descend  the  river,  carrying  tidings 
of  his  safety  to  his  wife  and  friends  in  Cuba,  secure 
reinforcements  of  men  and  horses,  together  with 
flocks,  herds,  seeds  and  everything  else  necessary 
to  colonize,  and  secure  the  possession  of  the  vast 
and  fertile  country  he  had  overrun. 

But  again  the  plans  of  the  great  commander  were 
to  be  frustrated.  The  tribes  were  in  league  against 
the  white  man.  Between  them  there  could  be  no 
peace.  Here  and  there  a  cacique  professed  amity; 
but  it  was  not  sincere,  and  often  it  was  a  scheme 
by  which  the  unforgiving  Indian  could  vent  his 


"THE  FORLORN  HOPE"  171 

vengeance  upon  some  neighboring  chieftain,  and 
settle  the  animosities  of  many  years. 

The  mighty  cacique  Quigualtanqui  now  met  them. 
His  realm  lay  between  the  place  where  de  Soto 
now  rested  and  the  ocean  port  he  so  much  desired. 
To  advance  the  army  must  pass  through  this  In 
dian's  province;  but  the  chief  was  haughty  and 
tenacious  of  his  territorial  sway.  He  sent  a  war 
like  message,  couched  in  no  uncertain  terms.  He 
swore  by  the  sun  and  the  moon  that  he  would 
wage  war  interminable  upon  the  invaders  should 
any  of  them  set  foot  within  his  boundaries. 

"Send  me  with  a  band  of  men,"  said  Tobar,  "and 
we  will  show  this  Indian  dog  who  he  is  barking  at. 
He  needs  a  thrashing,  should  be  chained  and  muz 
zled." 

"Tobar,"  counselled  the  Governor,  "better  is  it 
for  us  to  gain  this  man's  friendship.  Take  his 
word  that  we  come  upon  a  friendly  mission.  We 
simply  wish  to  pass  peaceably  through  his  country 
to  reach  the  sea.  Tell  him  also,  for  this  may  move 
his  superstitious  heart — tell  him — that  I,  your  lead 
er,  am  the  Son  of  the  Sun ;  that,  as  such,  I  have  re 
ceived  the  homage  of  the  caciques  of  all  the  prov 
inces  through  which  we  have  passed.  Summon 
Quigualtanqui  to  come  and  pay  me  suitable  honor; 
and  I  will  grant  him  special  favors  and  reward  him 
with  inestimable  gifts." 

The  Governor  awaited  his  messenger's  return. 

"Tobar  comes,"  de  Leon  announced.  "His  com 
ing  has  been  delayed,  I  think,"  remarked  the  tired 
commander.  "It  seems,  Juan,  I  am  myself  no 


172  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

longer.  I  once  believed  I  could  do  all  things;  and, 
as  for  falling  sick  and  lying  in  bed,  as  you  now 
see  me,  I  counted  such  a  thing  impossible.  But 
tell  me,  my  boy,  what  the  reply  of  this  chieftain 
may  be.  I  trust  these  interpreters  get  it  right  this 
time." 

"Listen,  my  lord,"  Tobar  began.  "These  are  the 
words  of  this  hot-headed  tribesman.  He  sends 
reply  that  if  the  'White  Chief  is  really  the  Son  of 
the  Sun  he  must  prove  the  fact.  He  must  show 
his  power  by  drying  up  the  great  river,  in  which 
case  he  should  be  ready  to  come  over  and  pay  me 
homage.  If  he  cannot  dry  the  river  he  must  know 
that  Quigualtanqui,  being  the  greatest  chieftain  in 
the  land,  visits  nobody,  but  receives  visits  and  trib 
utes  from  all.  If,  therefore,  the  white  leader  wishes 
to  see  his  Indian  master  he  must  cross  the  river  to 
the  Indian's  country.  If  he  comes  as  a  friend,'  the 
chief  then  said,  'I  shall  receive  him  as  a  friend;  if, 
as  an  enemy,  he  will  find  my  men  ready  for  battle, 
and  resolved  never  to  yield !" 

The  response  of  the  chief  angered  de  Soto,  but 
his  malady  was  grievous  upon  him.  A  persistent 
fever  rose  and  the  great  man  grew  weaker.  From 
his  sick  bed,  however,  he  maintained  his  usual  vig 
ilance  for  the  safety  of  his  army.  The  sentinels 
were  doubled,  and  a  rigid  watch  prevailed.  By 
night  the  cavalry  mounted  guard  in  the  suburbs  of 
the  village,  with  bridle  in  hand,  ready  for  action  ; 
while  two  troopers  were  constantly  on  patrol,  al 
ternately  visiting  the  outposts.  Detachments  of 
cross-bowmen  in  canoes  also  kept  watch  along  the 


"THE  FORLORN  HOPE"  173 

river.  The  army  was  thus  constantly  prepared  for 
war  and  momentary  battle  seemed  inevitable.  With 
these  scenes  of  war  about  de  Soto  was  growing 
weaker.  Day  by  day  his  strength  grew  less.  The 
fever  raged  within  him,  until  at  last,  the  tired  spirit 
could  strive  no  more.  The  great  commander  of 
men  and  armies  prepared  for  death  with  the  stead 
fastness  of  a  soldier. 

About  him  he  gathered  the  officers  and  soldiers 
who  stood  nearest  in  command  and  service.  "I 
must  soon  depart  this  life,"  he  said.  "Not  many 
hours  have  I  to  live.  Before  I  leave  the  men  with 
whom  I  have  companioned  so  long,  I  wish  to  give 
my  parting  orders  and  say  farewell,  good  comrades. 
Let  Louis  de  Moscoso  de  Alvarado  be  successor 
to  my  titles  and  commands  of  governor  and  captain- 
general  of  the  kingdom  and  provinces  of  Florida. 
I  charge  you  officers  and  men  in  the  name  of  the 
King  to  obey  your  new  commander." 

Then  at  his  request  the  oath  of  allegiance  was 
solemnly  taken.  When  this  was  done,  the  historian 
says,  "the  dying  chieftain  called  to  him,  by  two  and 
two,  and  three  and  three,  the  most  noble  of  his 
army.  Next  the  soldiery  entered,  twenty  and  twen 
ty,  thirty  and  thirty,  until  all  who  were  numbered 
in  that  once  proud  company  had  passed  the  dying 
man's  bedside  and  said  their  last  farewell." 

It  was  a  scene  of  great  tenderness  and  one  of 
honest  tears.  He  charged  his  men  to  advance  the 
Faith  and  augment  the  power  of  the  Crown  of 
Spain.  In  what  he  had  failed  he  urged  them  to 
press  on  to  successful  accomplishment.  He  regret- 


174  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

ted  he  could  not  bestow  upon  them  their  merited 
rewards,  but  gave  them  his  heartfelt  expressions 
of  gratitude ;  begged  the  forgiveness  of  all  whom 
he  had  offended ;  entreated  them,  affectionately,  to 
be  peaceful  and  loving  to  one  another.  His  fever 
raged,  he  "confessed  his  sins  with  much  hu 
mility  and  contrition,  and  expired." 

The  once  glorious  company  of  knights  was  now 
left  desolate,  with  enemies  on  every  side,  an  im 
poverished  treasury,  diminished  ranks  and  a  dis- 
spirited  army.  They  now  forgot  the  quest  of  gold. 
Tachuco  need  no  longer  pass  the  word  along  the 
line  of  tribes :  "Tell  these  white  strangers  that  the 
gold  they  seek  is  beyond."  Juan  de  Leon  and 
Rodrique  Gomez  talked  awhile  outside  the  dead 
leader's  hut.  It  was  now  well  past  midnight,  for 
the  hours  had  sped  away  unnoticed.  The  first  light 
of  day  was  soon  to  thrust  itself  above  the  eastern 
sky  line.  The  beasts  of  the  forest  were  yet  in 
search  of  prey,  and  the  song  birds  still  rested  in 
the  darkened  woodland  waiting  for  the  dawn. 
Throughout  the  camp,  here  and  there,  voices  were 
heard,  the  talk  of  the  cavaliers  and  soldiers  review 
ing  the  impressive  scenes  of  their  chief's  last  hours. 
Beyond,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  there  passed 
the  pickets  patrolling  their  allotted  posts  and  passed 
the  word  along  that  all  was  well. 

Then  through  the  night  and  the  watchful  guards 
there  passed  an  Indian  form. 

Juan  whispered  to  Rodrique  as  the  figure  glided 
forestward :  "Rodrique,"  he  said,  "see,  yonder  moves 


"THE  FORLORN  HOPE"  175 

an  Indian  woman.  She  goes  in  haste  from  the 
Governor's  quarters.  Let  us  follow." 

At  the  outposts  they  met  the  soldier  on  guard, 
gave  the  countersign  and  passed. 

"An  Indian  has  just  slipped  through  your  lines," 
de  Leon  said.  "Gomez  and  I  will  follow  a  distance. 
It  is  one  of  the  slave  girls  from  de  Soto's  tent. 
We'll  bring  her  back." 

Quietly  following,  they  tracked  the  woman  well 
into  the  forest.  By  the  silent  meadows  which 
fringed  the  wood,  the  slave-girl  halted.  Along  the 
cover  of  the  trees  there  passed  a  man.  Juan  studied 
him  carefully  as  he  crouched  along. 

"I  know  him,  Rod,"  said  Juan.  "Look  quickly, 
do  you  recognize  the  red  skin?" 

"Tachuco,"  responded  Gomez. 

"None  other,"  echoed  Juan,  "and  let  me  ask  why 
this  covert  meeting?" 

As  the  two  cavaliers  eyed  the  man  and  woman 
meet,  they  pushed  nearer  and  listened  to  their  con 
versation. 

"Tell  me,  Macanoche,"  said  the  tribesman,  "how 
fares  it  with  our  enemies  in  yonder  camp?  What 
plans  do  the  sachems  fashion  ?  The  White  Chief, 
how  is  he?" 

"Dead,"  whispered  the  woman  in  suppressed  ex 
citement.  "He  breathed  his  last  this  night,"  the 
woman  further  added.  "The  whole  army  passed 
his  cot  to  say  good-bye.  They  seemed  to  love  him 
and  obeyed  him  as  the  braves,  their  cacique." 

"  'Tis  well,  Machanoche.    Now  you  will  be  mine, 


176  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  light  of  my  wigwam,  to  share  my  maize  and 
corn.     .     .     ." 

Tachuco  had  not  finished  when  the  crashing  un 
derbrush  caused  him  to  be  silent.  It  was  the  picket, 
growing  impatient  that  the  two  Spaniards  did  not 
return  at  once  with  the  escaped  slave.  At  his  ap 
proach  the  Indian  woman  rose,  and  her  lover  stood, 
uncertain  for  the  moment  whether  to  fight  or  run. 
As  he  hesitated,  Juan  de  Leon  bounded  forward 
and  cried  aloud :  "Tachuco,  this  slave-girl  shall  not 
be  yours.  The  white  men  have  her  still."  Instantly 
the  knights  and  picket  reached  the  slave,  seized  her, 
as  Tachuco  hurried  away,  making  sure  his  escape 
through  the  dark  and  tangled  wildwood. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
"THE  ABANDONED  CHASE." 

The  sun  had  risen  above  the  forest,  bright  and 
glistening,  dying  the  river  its  own  color.  There  were 
no  clouds  in  the  sky  that  day — only  in  the  hearts 
of  the  cavaliers  were  darkness  and  gloom  to  be 
found.  Even  the  woods  were  lighted,  as  with  spec 
tral  fire. 

In  a  little  straw-covered  dwelling  two  men  were 
talking.  It  would  seem  better  to  have  sought  the 
open,  in  the  fresh  air  and  sunshine;  for  the  day 
was  glorious.  The  night  passed  was  stormy.  Up 
and  down  the  Mississippi  there  battled  the  wings 
of  the  storm,  like  two  contending  armies.  The  con 
test  of  the  clouds  and  wind  and  rain  of  the  night 
before  had  made  the  coming  day  more  full  of  glory. 

The  reason  why  the  two  men  sat  indoors,  while 
the  world  was  bright  and  cheery  without,  was  they 
wished  to  talk  unheard,  save  by  themselves,  as  two 
spies  would  whisper  to  safeguard  their  case.  The 
chief  speaker  was  the  good  priest  Phillipe ;  the  chief 
listener,  his  friend  and  brother  Barbidilla. 

"This  expedition  started  wrongly,"  Phillipe  be 
gan.  "The  search  for  gold  had  been  our  chief 
purpose,  not  exploration  search  for  knowledge,  the 
betterment  of  the  natives,  not  conquest  for  the 
king,  nor  glory  for  the  Church.  The  cavaliers 
thought  of  gold,  and  the  soldiers  talked  of  nothing 


178  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

else;  and  even  we  priests  of  the  Church  were  car 
ried  away  in  the  mad  rush.  Now  the  quest  is  over. 
Muscoso  feels  it  is,  although  he  must  first  call  a 
council  of  the  cavaliers.  Thus  ends  all  campaigns 
the  goal  of  which  is  merely  mercenary." 

"But,  Phillipe,"  the  brother  priest  replied,  "did 
not  de  Soto  tell  us  of  his  aims  of  forming,  in  some 
fertile  place,  a  Christian  colony  and,  fashioning  this 
land  after  our  own  fair  land  of  Spain,  thus  make 
the  'desert  to  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose?'  " 

"Yes,  he  did  talk  colonization  at  times,  when 
baffled  in  that  other  search ;  yet  gold,  gold,  gold,  has 
been  the  cry,  from  the  coast  to  the  Mississippi,  and 
the  regions  beyond.  But  now  the  search  is  surely 
ended,  so  far  as  Florida  is  concerned,  at  any  rate; 
for  the  question  now  before  us  is  meat  and  drink, 
shelter  from  the  storm  and  the  attacks  of  savages 
and  some  escape  from  this  inhospitable  land.  How 
to  reach  Cuba,  or  Mexico,  or  Spain  is  the  query 
that  confronts  us ;  but  let  me  tell  you  more.  .  .  ." 

"Some  gossip  from  the  camp,  I  think  you  bring 
me,  Phillipe.  Your  ear  is  always  on  the  ground. 
You  are  quick  to  hear  when  others  are  stone-deaf." 

"Misjudge  me  not,  my  brother.  This  time  I 
could  not  help  hearing.  I  was  marching  by  the 
Governor's  remains  last  night  and  held  that  place 
till  early  morning.  Between  me  and  the  slaves' 
apartments  stood  but  one  frail  partition,  with  closed 
but  almost  useless  door,  not  a  door — I  should  add — 
but  simply  a  lightly  covered  opening.  De  Soto's 
women  slaves  were  talking.  My  knowledge  of  the 
Indian  tongue  is  not  so  great,  yet  these  three  years 


"THE  ABANDONED  CHASE"  179 

I  have  not  mingled  with  the  Indians  without  learn 
ing  considerable  of  their  speech.  I  heard  the  two 
slaves  talking,  and  I  knew  the  meaning  of  their 
words.  They  said  the  Indians  suspect." 

"Suspect  what?"  Barbidilla  interrupted. 

"That  the  Governor  is  dead,  which  means  the 
savages  will  be  more  daring,  will  rise  against  us. 
We  shall  be  undone.  No  white  man  will  reach  the 
coast.  But  here  comes  Anasco." 

"Come,  good  men,"  said  Anasco  to  the  priests. 
"You  are  summoned  to  assist  in  the  burial  service 
of  the  Governor.  To-night,  at  midnight,  we  shall 
bury  him  in  the  broad  plain,  near  the  village.  Meet 
with  the  cavaliers  at  de  Soto's  tent." 

At  the  appointed  place  and  time,  the  dead  of 
night,  his  most  trusted  followers  buried  the  great 
commander,  while  the  sentinels  kept  watch,  and 
the  natives  skulked  about  to  learn  if  their  con 
jectures  were  true.  There,  outside  the  village,  in 
one  of  the  great  pits  from  which  the  Indians  had 
taken  earth  for  their  dwellings,  they  laid  him  away. 
There  in  secret  and  in  studied  silence,  yet  with 
many  tears  of  priests  and  cavaliers,  the  last  fond 
words  were  said.  The  night  stole  on  and  with  it 
the  dawn  of  day.  Next  morning,  the  better  to  de 
ceive  the  Indians,  they  announced  to  the  natives 
that  the  Governor  was  recovering  of  his  malady. 
They  caused  much  water  to  be  sprinkled  over  the 
plain  and  the  grave,  as  if  to  prevent  dust  being 
raised  by  the  horses'  hoofs.  Then  they  scoured 
the  level  space  about  the  camp,  galloping  over  the 
pits  and  across  the  grave.  Thus  assuming  an  air 


i8o  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

of  gayety  that  they  might  mislead  the  savages.  But 
their  precautions  were  all  in  vain.  The  Indians 
knew,  not  only  the  death  of  the  Governor,  but  the 
place  of  his  burial. 

"De  Leon,  these  red  men  know,"  said  Anasco. 
"Watch  them  as  they  pass  the  grave.  See  them  talk 
to  one  another  and  make  signs  with  their  chins  and 
eyes  toward  the  spot  where  the  body  is.  We  must 
take  it  hence  or,  in  our  neglect  the  Indians  will,  in 
utter  desecration." 

So  it  was  decreed  to  lower  the  body  of  De  Soto 
into  the  depths  of  the  silent  river,  which  flowed  by, 
in  all  its  grandeur.  That  night  they  opened  the 
newly  made  grave,  fashioned  a  rustic  coffin,  made 
from  the  plenteous  evergreen,  and  therein  they 
placed  the  mortal  remains — the  garments  weighted 
with  sand — and,  launching  the  craft  which  de  Soto's 
own  hand  had  planned,  they  silently  rowed  well  out 
into  the  stream,  where  the  sullen  water  was  nine 
teen  fathoms  deep.  The  hooded  priests  and  the 
steel-clad  cavaliers,  a  little  company,  but  loving  and 
true,  sailed  on  that  strangely  freighted  craft.  The 
priests  breathed  a  quiet  prayer,  heard  scarcely  be 
yond  the  confines  of  the  boat.  The  knights  gently 
raised  the  coffin,  lifted  it  quietly  and  in  darkness 
over  the  vessel's  side,  let  it  fall,  like  some  sacred 
treasure,  and  watched  it  sink  to  the  bottom,  through 
scalding  tears.  Commending  anew  the  soul  of  the 
great  cavalier  to  heaven,  they  sadly  worked  their 
way  to  shore. 

"This  time,"  they  whispered  in  confidence,  "this 
time  the  Indians  do  not  know." 


Thus  the  discoverer  of  the  Mississippi  slept  be 
neath  its  waters.  "He  had  crossed  a  large  part  of 
the  continent  in  search  of  gold  and  found  nothing 
so  remarkable  as  his  burial  place."  And  when  the 
cacique  of  the  neighboring  province  came  to  Mus- 
coso  and  said :  "What  has  been  done  with  my 
brother  and  lord,  the  Governor?"  the  answer  was: 
"He  has  ascended  into  the  skies  for  a  little  while 
and  will  soon  be  back." 

But,  the  great  man  never  came  back.  He  had 
gone  the  way  of  all  mortals,  leaving  little  more  than 
a  memory  and  a  name.  And  so  the  army  mourned ; 
but  hid  their  grief.  Of  the  neighboring  tribes  some 
believed  the  story  of  Muscoso  that  de  Soto  had 
ascended  heavenward;  but  others  doubted,  or  be 
lieved  the  great  man  dead.  Among  them,  the  ca 
cique  Guachoya,  and,  when  for  many  hours  the 
water  of  the  river  flowed  above  the  dead  leader, 
this  cacique  sent  messengers  to  Muscoso.  They  led 
with  them  two  handsome  young  Indians  and  said : 
"Our  chief  has  sent  us  with  these  youths.  We  have 
a  custom  in  our  tribe  that  when  a  great  prince  dies 
we  put  to  death  some  person  to  attend  him,  and 
serve  him  on  his  journey  to  the  land  of  spirits. 
These  young  men  are  sent  for  this  purpose." 

Muscoso  was  perplexed  and  profuse  in  explana 
tion.  "Our  prince  is  not  dead,"  he  said,  "but  gone 
to  heaven  and  has  already  chosen  several  of  his 
Christian  followers  to  attend  him  there.  Go  tell 
Guachoya,  therefore,  to  receive  again  these  Indian 
youths  and  to  renounce  so  barbarous  a  custom  for 


182  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  future."     Then,  turning  to  the  men,  he  said: 
"You  men  are  free.    Return  to  your  homes." 

One  departed  at  the  word;  the  other  refused, 
saying:  "I  shall  never  serve  a  master  who  has  con 
demned  me  to  death  without  a  cause.  O  white 
man,  let  me  follow  you  who  have  saved  my  life!" 
and  the  man  followed  in  the  company.  De  Leon 
took  the  man  to  be  with  him,  and  a  most  faithful 
servant  he  became.  He  had  full  liberty,  but  loved 
to  stay  about  the  camp,  do  what  work  he  could,  and 
patiently  serve.  This  man,  it  was,  who  told  of 
Rodrique  Gomez'  flight. 

Juan  de  Leon  loved  Rodrique.  It  was  Rod  who 
bore  the  message  to  Leonora  on  the  ship  when  they 
sailed  from  Spain.  He  carried  the  necklace  and 
struggled  well  to  save  it,  when  the  Indian,  Tachuco, 
stole  up  from  behind  the  white  man  and  grasped 
the  treasure.  He  threw  the  wily  Indian  overboard, 
and  ever  since  that  day  had  kept  a  close  watch  of 
his  movements.  Gomez,  therefore,  knew  as  well  as 
Juan  that  the  treacherous  Indian  followed  the  army, 
made  enemies  along  the  way,  pushed  forward  and 
stirred  up  strife ;  and  often  had  he  put  these  words 
into  the  red  man's  mouth,  as  he  met  the  cavaliers : 
"The  gold  you  seek  is  not  here.  It  is  just  beyond." 
Rodrique  Gomez  was  a  deserter.  The  liberated 
tribesman  saw  him  and  the  Indian  girl  steal  forth 
from  camp  and  brought  the  news  to  de  Leon.  De 
Leon  then  roused  Muscoso.  "How  well  I  remem 
ber,  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  knights  from 
Spain,"  mused  de  Leon.  "He  comes  from  a  noble 


"THE  ABANDONED  CHASE"  183 

family,  is  rich,  and  when  he  first  lined  up  with  our 
men,  no  cavalier  was  more  splendidly  equipped  than 
he." 

"Never  mind  the  young  man's  past,"  quickly  said 
Muscoso.  "What  we  want  now  is  to  find  him  and 
bring  him  back.  This  rescued  prisoner  says  he  saw 
the  white  man  and  the  Indian  maid  escape  together. 
Perhaps  he  did.  Perhaps  not.  We  will  send  a 
searching  party  among  the  natives  and  get  our 
lost  Gomez." 

"But,  Muscoso,"  persisted  de  Leon,  "I  know 
whereof  I  speak.  Gomez  of  late  has  been  addicted 
to  gambling.  No  one  in  all  the  camp  played  so 
much.  In  the  borrowed  wigwams,  along  the  river 
banks  as  we  journeyed,  or,  anywhere  a  man  could 
rest,  there  would  Gomez  seek,  by  skillful  game, 
to  while  the  idle  hours  away.  Of  late  he  has  not 
been  so  skillful.  Misfortune  after  misfortune  was 
his  lot.  But  two  days  ago  a  run  of  ill  luck  struck 
him,  and  stripped  him  of  all  he  had  brought  with 
him  to  the  army,  with  everything  he  had  captured 
on  the  march.  Thus  in  this  recent  playing,  he  lost 
his  clothes,  his  arms,  a  horse  and  the  female  slave 
which  followed  him  so  long  and  faithfully.  All  of 
his  losses  he  has  honorably  paid;  but  separation 
from  that  captive  girl  was  too  much  for  him.  I 
saw  him  making  the  struggle  between  pride  and  af 
fection  and  love  has  triumphed.  The  girl  was  but 
eighteen  and  beautiful.  He  had  conceived  a  passion 
for  her  and  would  not  part  with  her,  so  he  has  left 
us  and  gone  never  to  return.  This  Indian  captive 
is  right.  He  saw  the  two  depart  camp  last  night." 


184  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"Send  the  man  with  the  searching  party,"  com 
manded  Muscoso;  and  the  man  was  sent.  The 
party  went  forth,  but  soon  returned  without  the 
man  they  sought. 

"Go  tell  the  tribes,"  shouted  Muscoso,  "that  I 
will  hold  that  they  have  murdered  this  man,  if  by 
to-morrow  at  this  time  he  is  not  returned." 

That  night,  if  Muscoso  could  have  looked  far 
enough  through  the  forest,  several  leagues  beyond 
the  camp,  he  would  have  seen  his  old  comrade  in 
arms.  He  and  the  Indian  girl  were  alone,  a  mile 
distant  from  the  Indian  settlement  whither  they 
were  both  traveling.  They  were  seated  on  the  dry 
sand  of  the  river  bank,  in  a  sheltered,  cave-like, 
romantic  nook. 

"Tell  me,  truly  now,  Ulia,  are  you  a  princess, 
that  is,  is  your  father  the  king  of  his  tribe  ?  I  know 
you  are  of  queenly  form  and  beauty." 

The  maiden  drank  eagerly  his  words. 

"But  tell  me  all.  I  have  not  questioned  you  be 
fore.  In  the  presence  of  my  white  comrades  whom 
I  leave  for  you,  I  could  not  treat  you  as  a  queen ; 
but  I  have  loved  you  longer  than  you  know.  I 
have  wearied  of  this  wandering  life  and  shall  now 
plant  my  wigwam  among  your  father's  people.  It 
is  my  pleasure  to  be  called  his  son-in-law,  and  be 
numbered  with  your  tribe.  Muscoso  or  the  cavaliers 
of  Spain  cannot  find  me  if  you  and  your  kinsmen 
shelter  me.  Come  rest  here  upon  my  shoulder,  my 
Indian  girl.  We  must  not  hurry  on.  Those  of 
the  camp  will  not  seek  me.  Nor  know  they  yet  of 
our  departure." 


"THE  ABANDONED  CHASE"  185 

Gomez  drew  the  maiden  form  closer  to  his  breast 
and  listened  as  she  said :  "Will  the  white  man  never 
fail  me,  or  does  he  mock  me  with  his  fragrant 
words?  Will  he  keep  me  in  his  wigwam  to  work 
and  suffer  and  to  rear  him  children  ?  Then,  like  the 
sun  behind  the  brow  of  the  forest,  will  he  quietly 
vanish  in  the  woods  and  seek  the  white  men,  sailing 
down  the  river  and  far  away?" 

"Ulia,  you  know  me  now.  I  have  made  the 
choice.  I  shall  forget  the  white  man  and  his  land. 
I  cannot  change  my  skin,  but  the  welcome  sun  shall 
give  me  color  and,  arrayed  as  your  father's  sons,  I 
shall  take  my  place  among  his  warriors." 

Thus,  seated  together  in  that  cave  of  the  earth, 
the  white  man  of  the  old  world  and  the  copper- 
colored  girl  of  the  new,  pledged  to  each  other  their 
future  fortunes  and  their  lives.  He  held  her  yet 
in  his  grasp  like  a  man  who  has  taken  one  step  and 
will  now  go  to  the  journey's  end. 

"Yes,  Ulia,  only  death  shall  part  us,"  and  across 
the  woman's  round  face  there  passed  a  smile  of 
contentment  and  peace. 

So  they  rested  in  blissful  and  unexpected  satis 
faction,  secure,  they  thought,  in  all  the  many  calls 
of  love. 

"I  will  make  a  true  Indian  of  you,  my  white 
man,"  the  Indian  damsel  said.  "The  royal  plumes 
I  shall  bring  you  and  the  paint  the  warriors  wear 
will  my  own  hands  rub  upon  your  body.  The  rich 
est  moccasins  will  I  fashion  for  you  and  I  shall 
adorn  our  wigwam  as  none  of  the  people  of  my 
tribe  can  do." 


i86  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

She  had  not  finished  speaking  when  the  ground 
above  their  heads  seemed  to  tremble. 

"Some  one  moves  above  us,"  whispered  the  maid, 
raising  herself.  "He  seems  in  search  of  some  one. 
Can  it  be  he  seeks  us?  It  must  be  one  of  your 
white  warriors  who  has  found  our  trail." 

"I  doubt  it,  Ulia,"  said  Gomez.  "Although  I  do 
not  understand  this  stranger's  coming.  Be  quiet. 
I  feel  he  will  soon  leave  the  spot.  Here  let  us 
press  well  back  into  the  cave.  He  must  presently 
depart.  But  rest  well  back  a  moment,  while  I 
reconnoiter." 

Moving  forward  Gomez  peered  upward  from 
their  resting  place.  As  he  did  so  a  stone  was  rolled 
over  the  edge.  It  just  missed  his  head. 

"It  is  a  mere  accident,"  he  persisted.  So,  self- 
deceived,  he  ventured  further.  This  time  a  huge 
stone  fell  full  upon  his  back.  Seizing  his  weapons 
he  bounded  forward.  Through  the  opening,  round 
the  rock,  to  his  left  and  up  the  bank,  he  sprang, 
never  stopping  till  he  stood  upon  the  level,  where 
he  could  face  defiantly  that  one  man,  woman  or 
beast,  who  came  to  spoil  his  honeymoon.  The  alert 
Ulia  followed  close  behind  him,  although,  at  the 
time,  he  knew  it  not. 

His  knife  was  in  his  belt.  The  sun  was  high  in 
the  heavens  and  the  air  was  still.  Some  pebbles 
fell.  They  rolled  downward  as  the  woman  burst 
upon  the  scene.  She  was  not  as  startled  as  the  man. 
Upon  her  face  had  formed  a  look  of  great  relief. 
She  saw  only  what  was  to  be  expected,  a  straying 
Indian;  not  so  her  white  man.  His  face  bore  the 


"THE  ABANDONED  CHASE"  187 

marks  of  recognition  and,  as  the  glance  became  more 
knowing,  it  turned  into  fiercest  rage. 

The  newcomer,  the  third  party,  who  turned  pleas 
ant  company  into  a  fighting  crowd,  was — in  truth — 
an  Indian,  in  full  war  attire.  The  warrior  spoke. 
"You  come  to  steal  the  finest  of  the  Indian  women," 
he  said.  "You,  white  man,  have  I  caught,  having 
just  robbed  some  wigwam  of  its  finest  flower.  Per 
haps  now  some  brave  mourns  his  wife  and  seeks 
her  while  the  thieving,  roaming,  homeless  white 
man  carries  her  away." 

"Your  heart  means  well,  but  your  tongue  speaks 
not  the  truth,  this  time,"  the  Indian  woman  cried. 
"The  white  man  is  my  friend.  Nay,  more,  I  am  his, 
forever.  He  goes  with  me  and  leaves  his  people 
to  choose  mine." 

"Maiden,  you  speak  as  you  have  been  taught," 
the  Indian  warrior  snapped.  "Say  it  not.  I  know 
this  man  and  he  knows  me.  Let  him  speak." 

Rod  was  not  slow  in  speaking.  He  had  waited 
in  his  new  position,  perplexed  whether  to  play  foe 
or  friend;  but  the  Indian  with  his  words  decided 
him.  Then  he  not  only  spoke,  but  followed  word 
by  ready  action. 

"Yes,  Tachuco,"  cried  Rodrique  Gomez,  "I  do 
know  you  and  you  know  me.  You  have  reason  for 
such  knowledge,  from  that  time  when  first  you  met 
me  on  the  Spanish  vessel  and  I  hurled  you  over 
board,  then  helped  to  rescue  you;  but  now  no  one 
shall  save  you.  Come  nearer  and  I  will  treat  you 
as  you  treated  Estivanico  at  the  coast." 

The   men    sprang    forward.      The    struggle   was 


i88  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

long.  They  rolled  along  the  bank,  toward  the  edge 
and,  over,  both  of  them,  as  Tachuco  had  been  cast 
from  the  ship's  deck,  three  years  before.  On  the 
sand  below  they  fought.  Each  striving  to  use  the 
weapon  that  was  nearest  and  most  effective.  Mean 
while  the  maiden  hovered  about,  as  one  beside  her 
self.  "What  does  all  this  mean?"  she  asked  herself. 
"Which  of  the  men  shall  I  help?  This  strange  In 
dian?"  His  black  hair  and  red  face  said  "yes." 
Should  she  assist  the  white  man?  Her  heart  an 
swered  in  the  affirmative.  Almost  unconsciously 
she  seized  the  Indian's  bow  which  had  fallen  from 
his  hand  and  was  about  to  beat  him  on  the  head. 

The  men  had  now  risen ;  but  only  for  a  moment. 
They  met  again.  They  fell  apart  a  moment.  A 
tomahawk  was  raised  in  midair ;  but  before  it  could 
descend  a  knife  thrust  from  the  white  man  settled 
the  duel.  Tachuco  stood  still  a  moment,  tottered, 
then  fell — dead.  Thus  he  died  as  had  the  faithful 
Estivanico  whom  he  miserably  slew  without  a  word 
of  warning.  Thus  he  died  in  the  height  of  what 
he  counted  success.  The  white  men  had  turned 
toward  the  sea-coast,  away  from  the  Indian's  land, 
away  from  the  quest  of  gold;  but  this  triumph 
Tachuco  would  never  enjoy.  Rodrique  Gomez' 
knife  had  found  his  heart.  They  left  him  where 
he  fell  and  went  upon  their  way,  the  man  and  the 
woman  together.  An  hour  later  they  had  come  in 
sight  of  the  Indian  camp,  Ulia's  home.  There  the 
chief  and  father  welcomed  them,  the  daughter  joy 
ously  returned,  and  the  knight  she  brought,  most 
cordially  received. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS." 

Rodrique  Gomez  had  been  won  to  the  wild.  He 
was  no  longer  a  white  man,  except  in  color;  and 
even  that,  the  artful  Ulia  with  her  tinted  ointment 
had  skillfully  concealed.  The  slave  had  enslaved 
the  master  and  carried  him  home  with  her.  Yet, 
the  Spaniards  were  loath  to  give  him  up ;  and  their 
search  was  of  no  avail.  The  threatenings  of  the 
Governor  had  failed.  The  charge  that  he  had  been 
murdered  by  the  savages  was  at  once  refuted. 
The  denials  of  Muscoso  that  Gomez  remained  by 
force,  not  by  choice,  among  the  people  of  Ulia, 
were  not  well  grounded. 

"The  man  has  been  murdered  by  some  of  your 
tribesmen,  or  you  detain  him  against  his  will,"  per 
sisted  Muscoso  to  the  assembled  chieftains. 

Instantly  a  proud  chief  replied :  "We  are  not  men 
who  tell  falsehoods.  If  you  doubt  the  truth  of 
what  we  say,  send  one  of  us  to  bring  you  testimony 
of  the  fact;  and  if  the  Spaniard  is  not  brought 
back,  or  some  satisfactory  proof  that  he  is  alive  and 
well,  all  of  us  chieftains  remaining  in  your  hands 
will  answer  for  his  loss  with  our  lives." 

The  proposition  pleased  the  Governor.  He  would 
send  a  message.  A  friend  of  Gomez,  Baltazar,  by 
name,  was  chosen  to  write  to  Rodrique  an  appeal 
ing  letter.  The  letter  read: 


190  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

"Dear  Rodrique: 

"Your  friends  in  the  Spanish  camp  exhort  you 
to  return  to  us  who  are  your  own  people.  The  past 
will  be  forgotten.  Your  horse  and  arms  will  be 
restored  to  you,  and  all  you  need,  you  can  have 
for  the  asking.  We  want  you,  Rodrique.  Remem 
ber  your  duty  as  a  cavalier.  The  step  you  have 
taken  is  a  bad  one.  Some  day  you  will  regret  it, 
unless  you  now  return.  The  Governor  sends  his 
love.  We  wait  for  you."  Signed  "Baltazar." 

The  message  was  carried  to  the  tribe  where  Rod 
rique  now  lived.  The  following  day  the  messenger 
returned,  bringing  back  the  letter  of  Baltazar. 
Written  upon  it  in  charcoal,  was  the  name  "Rod 
rique  Gomez,"  a  proof  he  was  still  alive.  He  sent, 
however,  no  answer  in  reply.  The  messenger  said : 
"The  white  man  will  not  return.  His  heart  is  no 
longer  in  the  Spanish  army." 

"We  must  leave  him  then,"  the  Governor  said, 
"go  back  home  to  Spain  and  tell  his  people.  What 
will  they  say?  How  greatly  has  the  youth  fallen!" 

"No,  not  so,  my  good  Governor,"  said  the  chief 
tain  whose  home  harbored  Gomez.  "The  youth  will 
be  greatly  honored  in  my  land.  He  has  restored 
my  daughter.  I  receive  him  as  a  son-in-law,  and 
welcome  him  to  my  home  with  all  its  honors  which 
I  hold  among  my  tribe." 

Then  the  army  moved  still  further  Westward. 
Again,  it  moved  Southward,  seeking  Mexico.  Mis 
led  by  poor  guides  and  deceived  by  others,  they 
faced  hunger,  sickness,  insubordination  and  confu 
sion,  well-nigh  bordering  on  despair.  In  a  vast  un- 


"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS"      191 

inhabited  region,  where  they  wandered  for  many 
days,  their  provisions  became  exhausted.  Like 
beasts  they  lived  on  herbs  and  roots.  An  old  In 
dian  warrior  led  them.  The  man  had  been  fur 
nished  by  a  cacique  as  a  guide.  The  eyes  of  the 
Spaniards  were  slowly  opened,  when  in  great  dis 
may,  they  perceived,  for  days,  they  had  been  wan 
dering  in  a  circle. 

"Bring  hither  the  guide,"  the  Governor  said. 

The  man  was  brought,  expecting  to  be  questioned 
about  the  route.  Muscoso  was  angry,  and  before 
him  the  Indian  stood  in  evident  fear. 

"A  lying  guide,  you  are,"  the  Governor  said. 
"For  three  days  I  have  watched  the  course  you 
planned  for  us,  and  each  clay  you  have  made  my 
army  encircle  this  great  wilderness.  First  north 
ward,  then  to  the  west,  then  southward,  eastward 
and  again  north,  you  have  led  us." 

Giving  peremptory  orders,  the  Governor  called  to 
his  men:  "Tie  this  fellow  to  a  tree  and  let  loose 
the  dogs  on  him,  and  we  will  see  what  answer  he 
can  give  us  for  his  treachery." 

The  loosened  beasts  sprang  upon  him  and  began 
to  shake  him.  In  terror  for  his  life  the  Indian 
said:  "The  white  chief  is  right.  Obedience  to  my 
chieftain  has  made  me  give  the  white  man  a  false 
path.  I  have  been  commanded  to  mislead  you  and 
bewilder  you  in  this  uninhabited  desert.  I  confess 
it;  but  now,  oh  white  man,  pardon  me,  and  in 
three  days  I  will  bring  you  to  a  populous  country  to 
the  west." 


i92  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

The  confession  did  not  save  the  old  warrior.  In 
dignant  at  the  piece  of  treachery,  Muscoso  set  the 
dogs  again  upon  the  man,  and,  ravenous  with  hun 
ger,  they  tore  the  old  Indian  to  pieces.  But,  now, 
the  Spaniards  found  themselves  in  a  sorry  plight. 
They  had  no  guides  and  knew  not  which  way  to 
turn.  In  their  dilemma,  however,  they  followed  the 
directions  of  their  victim  by  marching  directly 
westward,  "thus  giving  credit,  after  his  death,  to 
what  they  disbelieved  while  he  was  living."  For 
days  they  traveled,  foot-sore  and  hungry.  Now 
they  pushed  through  the  unfriendly  forest,  again 
they  hastened  in  the  open.  Westward  they  went, 
seeking  human  habitation  and  found  it  not  for  many 
days.  At  length  the  signs  of  living  man  appeared, 
and  the  cavaliers  took  courage.  They  found  a  vil 
lage  different  from  any  they  had  met  before.  The 
houses  also  differed,  resembling  hovels  they  had 
seen  in  Spain.  In  these  habitations  they  found 
abundance  of  buffalo  meat  which  appeased  their 
hunger.  They  also  found  warriors  of  great  daring. 

At  length,  one  afternoon,  the  Spaniards  encamped 
in  an  open  plain.  They  stretched  themselves  on 
the  fresh  green  sward,  and  called  to  their  Indian 
attendants  to  prepare  them  a  meal,  and  there  they 
lay  and  talked.  The  Governor  and  Juan  de  Leon 
sat  side  by  side  among  the  company  of  knights. 

"Tell  me,  Juan,"  said  the  Governor,  "how  long 
has  Rodrique  contemplated  this  elopement  of  his. 
Rather  an  unusual  affair  this  is.  Usually  the  woman 
elopes  with  the  man;  but  this  time  the  man  seems 
to  have  eloped  with  the  woman.  But,  we  shall  miss 


"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS"      193 

Gomez.  I  liked  the  man.  His  trouble  was  his 
love  for  the  game  of  chance." 

"His  departure,  Governor,  I  think,  was  sudden," 
replied  Juan.  "These  Indian  maidens  are  crafty 
beings." 

"Yes,  but  good  servants;  are  they  not?"  retorted 
Muscoso.  "See  that  company,  yonder,  at  their 
work,  preparing  our  dinner.  They  do  it  well,  with 
out  complaint.  No,  not  exactly  without  complaint ; 
but  they  do  it,  anyway;  and  none  of  us  have  been 
poisoned.  It  has  taken  our  stomachs  some  time  to 
grow  accustomed  to  their  style  of  cooking;  but 
none  of  us,  yet,  have  lost  our  lives  because  of  the 
cooking  of  these  housemaids." 

"No,"  answered  Juan;  "but,"  he  added,  "give  me 
my  Spanish  girl." 

He  spoke  quickly,  and  in  a  general  way;  but 
Muscoso  caught  up  his  words.  "Yes,  Juan,  I  would 
like  to  give  you  back  your  Spanish  girl,  if  I  could. 
Let's  see,  what  was  her  name  ?  Leonora  ?  Ah,  yes, 
Leonora.  We  had  two,  at  first,  did  we  not,  after 
we  left  Gomera,  and,  for  awhile  at  Santiago  and 
Havana  ?" 

Juan  blushed.  His  years  of  roughing  in  the  wil 
derness,  with  such  temptations  as  befell  an  able- 
bodied  man,  far  from  the  restraints  of  home,  had  not 
crushed  the  blush  which  sprang  quickly  to  his 
cheeks.  So  the  color  rose  on  the  lover's  honest 
face.  His  life  was  pure,  and  his  heart  was  true; 
while  the  crimson  mark  upon  him  revealed  the 
love  he  so  dearly  cherished;  yet  it  told  of  purity 


i94  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

which  some  of  those  cavaliers  did  not  understand, 
as  they  gazed  at  the  slave  women  of  the  camp. 

Juan  changed  the  subject.  "See,  Muscoso!"  he 
said,  quickly  rising.  "See.  Scatter  men !  Scatter ! 
An  arrow  comes  our  way." 

As  the  Spaniards  rolled  from  side  to  side,  thus 
avoiding  the  unexpected  attack,  a  single  Indian 
stood  forth  to  view.  Gayly  painted,  with  bow  in 
hand  and  a  quiver  of  arrows  over  his  right  shoulder, 
with  waving  plumes  upon  his  head,  he  stood  in  the 
entrance  of  the  enclosure,  where  the  knights  rested 
awaiting  their  dinner. 

"Whizz,"  the  arrow  sped  upon  its  way.  "Whizz," 
another  arrow  quickly  followed.  Juan's  warning 
had  been  well  timed.  The  darts  flew  wide  of  their 
intended  mark  and,  passing  through  their  vacant 
pathway,  fell  fatally  among  the  Indian  women. 
Two  of  these  useful  camp  workers  fell  dead,  one 
wounded  through  the  shoulder,  the  other  in  her 
breast.  The  daring  savage  prepared  to  do  more 
damage ;  but  Baltazar,  the  knight,  boyhood  friend 
of  Gomez,  chanced  to  be  on  horseback  near  the 
archer.  Hearing  the  shout,  raised  by  the  cavaliers, 
and  seeing  the  savage  now  about  to  flee,  he  gave 
chase.  Close  to  the  wood  he  overtook  the  intruder, 
drove  his  steed  upon  him  and  transfixed  him  with 
his  spear,  and  thus  avenged  the  wanton  assault  up 
on  the  Spanish  camp. 

Just  here  the  army  changed  its  course.  They 
had  traveled  westward,  and  to  the  south;  but  now 
their  plans  were  changed  again.  Thus  far  they 
had  gone  from  place  to  place,  lured  by  false  hopes 


"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS"      195 

and  led  on  by  idle  tales.  They  had  traversed  the 
wild  waste  of  country  which  the  Spaniards  called 
the  province  of  Los  Vaqueros,  across  the  river  they 
called  Datcao,  a  favorite  Indian  hunting  ground, 
where  they  beheld  great  quantities  of  deer  feeding 
along  its  banks.  They  had  come  in  sight  of  the 
lofty  western  mountain,  uninhabitated  and  unin 
viting.  Their  hearts  began  to  fail  them.  It  was 
now  October,  and  Muscoso,  the  commander,  was 
weary  in  soul  and  body.  He  and  his  men  longed 
for  some  place  where  the  Indian  ceased  to  trouble 
by  clay  and  where  at  night  their  sleep  would  not  be 
broken  by  continual  alarms. 

A  council  of  the  officers  was  called,  and  it  was 
proposed  to  make  their  way  back  to  the  Mississippi, 
build  vessels  there  and  descend  the  river  to  the 
ocean.  Some  with  a  lingering  hope  of  finding  some 
country,  rich  with  gold,  to  reward  them  for  their 
toils,  dissented  for  a  time.  Others  affirmed  they 
would  rather  perish  in  the  wilderness  than  return 
beggared  and  miserable  to  Europe,  "from  an  expe 
dition  undertaken  with  such  high  and  vaunting  an 
ticipation"  ;  but  at  length  wise  counsels  prevailed. 
The  army  retraced  its  footsteps  to  the  Mississippi, 
through  many  hardships  and  frequent  battles. 

At  Aminoya,  with  abundance  of  provisions,  gath 
ered  round  about  the  country,  with  a  stockaded 
town  and  trees  near  by  to  strengthen  the  defenses, 
with  much  timber  for  constructing  ships,  the  cav 
aliers  settled  in  winter  quarters  and  began  to  build 
seven  brigantines.  The  work  commenced  with  ani 
mation  and  was  continued  with  joy.  Francisco,  the 


196  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

Genoese,  the  same  who  had  before  built  their 
bridges,  rafts  and  boats,  directed  the  workmen. 
Five  carpenters  of  Biscay,  who  were  among  the 
company,  were  his  lieutenants,  and  under  their  in 
struction,  the  whole  camp  was  soon  at  work  like  a 
crowd  of  boys  building  a  log-cabin  or  a  cat-boat. 
They  felled  the  trees  from  the  adjacent  forests  and 
prepared  their  lumber.  The  chains  were  struck 
from  the  ankles  of  the  slaves;  and  the  cavalier's 
stirrups  were  taken,  together  with  whatever  else 
of  iron  could  be  found,  and  forged  into  nails  and 
spikes.  The  bark  of  the  mulberry  tree  was  twisted 
into  cordage,  and  the  hemp-like  Enequen  was  used 
as  oakum.  The  Indian  mantles  which  were  firm 
and  whole  were  fashioned  into  sails ;  and  every  man 
among  the  three  hundred  or  more  in  the  camp 
worked  with  a  will. 

Guachoya  and  Anilvo,  neighboring  chiefs,  as 
sisted,  bringing  fish  and  other  provisions  for  the 
workmen,  together  with  various  materials  for  the 
ships  and  much  cordage  of  different  sizes,  made  of 
grass  and  fibrous  plants,  and  mantles  made  of  an 
herb  resembling  mallows,  containing  a  fibre  like 
flax,  which  the  Indians  wrought  into  thread  and 
dyed  with  various  colors.  Thus  fully  equipped  with 
materials  and  men  and  with  provisions  while  they 
toiled,  they  labored  through  the  winter,  building 
four  large  frame  structures,  to  shelter  their  work 
manship  in  time  of  storms  and  inundation. 

But  as  the  joyous  work  proceeded,  their  old  ene 
mies  were  at  their  doors.  Across  the  river  from 
Aminoya,  where  the  Spaniards  wrought,  lay  the 


"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS"      197 

fertile  province  of  Quigualtanqui.  This  cacique 
was  young  and  warlike,  "beloved  throughout  his 
extensive  dominions,  and  feared  by  his  neighbors 
on  account  of  his  great  power."  Anilco,  the  Span 
iards'  Indian  friend,  brought  to  Muscoso  the  ru 
mor  of  the  hostile  plot  against  them. 

"Quigualtanqui  fears  for  his  sovereignty  of  this 
territory,"  said  the  friendly  Anilco.  "He  has  heard 
of  the  great  barges  you  white  men  are  building. 
These  boats,  he  thinks,  will  give  you  command  of 
the  river,  or  enable  you  to  leave  the  country  and 
return  in  greater  force  to  conquer  it.  He  accord 
ingly  has  sent  envoys  to  the  neighboring  caciques, 
on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  these  chieftains  have 
formed  a  league,  to  combine  their  forces  at  a  cer 
tain  time,  for  a  general  assault,  to  drive  the  Span 
iards  on  to  their  destruction.  Let  one  of  your  men 
go  with  me  this  night,  and  he  will  see  that  what 
the  Indian  says  is  true.  Dress  your  white  man  like 
an  Indian.  Come,  I  will  make  an  Indian  warrior 
of  this  cavalier  before  sunset. 

"Here  is  the  man,"  Anilco  said,  pointing  to  Juan 
de  Leon.  Thus,  suddenly,  Juan  was  elected  to  go 
upon  this  dangerous  errand.  It  was  a  dark  and 
mournful  night  when  the  company  of  scouts  set  out 
all  Indians  except  de  Leon ;  yet,  for  the  time  de 
Leon,  too,  was  a  full-fledged  tribeman.  Down  the 
rolling  Mississippi,  and  across  its  waters,  they 
passed.  Along  the  way  were  signs  of  preparation 
for  the  coming  assault.  The  shacks  of  the  war 
riors  were  dimly  outlined,  as  they  stretched  north 
ward  and  southward  by  the  river  banks.  The  spies 


198  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

were  now  by  the  side  of  a  little  stream,  which 
finally  made  its  way  to  the  greater  waters.  Juan 
had  leaped  from  the  bank  to  the  sandy  shore  be 
low.  Anilco  followed. 

"There  has  been  a  battle  of  some  kind  here,"  the 
Indian  said.  "Even  in  the  dark  I  see  the  signs. 
Three  men  struggled  here.  No,-  look.  That  foot 
mark  is  that  of  a  woman;  and  that  is  not  an  In 
dian's  track.  One  of  the  three,  de  Leon,  was  a 
white  man.  Who,  tell  me,  who  could  it  be?"  Juan 
exclaimed. 

"Some  of  your  roving,  reckless,  soldiers,  I  sup 
pose,"  Anilco  answered. 

The  chief  was  yet  speaking  when  Juan  looked 
about  him  as  though  some  of  the  combatants  still 
loitered  there.  He  beheld  a  cave,  and  below  the 
cave  the  body  of  a  man,  lying  as  though  it  had 
been  thrown  from  the  bank  above. 

"An  Indian,"  whispered  Juan.  "He  was  worsted 
in  this  fight." 

Just  then  the  wind  arose,  and  with  it  the  moon 
glanced  through  a  rift  in  the  clouds  from  the  vaulted 
sky  overhead. 

Turning  slowly  to  Anilco  Juan  further  spoke.  He 
said:  "I  know  the  brave.  His  name  is  Tachuco. 
I  will  tell  you  more  of  him  when  we  get  back  to 
camp.  This  Indian  has  been  the  evil  genius  of  our 
expedition.  He  sailed  with  us  from  Spain  and, 
after  a  treacherous  murder  on  the  coast  of  the  new 
land,  he  pursued  our  army,  stirring  strife  along  the 
way.  How  he  met  his  death,  I  do  not  know." 

Gomez  in  his  wigwam  could  have  told  him;  but 


"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS"      199 

Gomez  now  was  a  full-fledged  warrior  and  avoided 
the  habitation  of  the  white  man. 

Retracing  their  steps  to  the  bank  above,  the 
scouting  party  turned  toward  their  village.  At  this 
point  they  met  a  company  of  four  savages.  Anilco 
talked  with  them. 

"We  go,"  they  said,  "to  Aminoya  to  seek  redress 
for  the  slaying  of  one  of  our  men,  a  cacique's  son, 
slain  at  the  white  man's  camp." 

"Yes,"  said  Anilco;  "but  was  he  not  on  forbidden 
ground  ?" 

"All  ground  within  this  land  is  the  Indian's 
ground,"  the  leader  reasoned.  "The  white  men  are 
intruders.  They  hold  our  village  at  their  will ;  but 
wait,  Anilco ;  ere  long  the  blow  will  be  struck,  and 
you  will  regret  you  have  not  joined  our  league  to 
rid  us  of  these  white  men  forever.  We  will  show 
them  that  the  white  man  who  comes  to  our  province 
never  returns  home." 

The  speaker  then  eyed  de  Leon.  The  masquerad 
ing  Indian  turned. 

"This  warrior  I  have  never  met  before,"  he  said. 

"You  know  not  all  my  men,"  Anilco  replied. 

The  face  of  Juan  was  now  well  hidden  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  and  the  shadows  of  his  In 
dian  friends. 

"No,"  said  the  aggressive  leader  of  the  group  of 
four.  "I  do  not  know  all  your  men ;  but  .  .  ." 

Both  parties,  those  of  Anilco  and  the  four  spies 
of  the  enemy,  suddenly  turned.  In  the  dark  and 
distance  there  came  a  troop  of  two  hundred  war 
riors  of  the  tribe  of  Quigualtanqui.  Anilco  turned. 


200  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

to  Juan,  whispered  something,  then  said  to  the  In 
dians  who  had  accosted  them:  "We  must  hurry  on. 
My  men  await  me  at  the  bend  of  the  river  above." 

The  four  braves  paused  a  moment,  then  has 
tened  back  to  meet  the  company  of  braves  who  fol 
lowed  them.  Juan  and  his  comrades  hurried  for 
ward.  Suddenly  the  forest  seemed  alive  with  sav 
ages.  Their  yells  were  heard.  A  shower  of  ar 
rows  fell  at  de  Leon's  feet;  but  it  was  too  dark 
for  fighting  at  long  range ;  and  then  pursuers  could 
not  overtake  them,  so  fast  they  traveled.  Once, 
however,  was  Juan  in  danger.  A  savage,  by  chance 
in  advance  of  the  others,  met  him  in  the  way.  Hear 
ing  the  whoops  of  his  brethren  to  the  rear,  he 
rushed  at  Juan  in  the  darkness,  from  his  form  and 
step,  judging  him  to  be  a  white  man;  but  when  he 
drew  near,  Juan's  Indian  rig  appeared,  and  the  war 
rior  vanished  in  the  woods  and  darkness  of  the 
night,  soon  to  rejoin  his  tribe  below.  Anilco  wished 
to  know  more  of  the  slain  Tachuco.  Juan  would 
have  talked,  but  his  attention  was  called  to  the 
rising  river  along  which  he  passed. 

"The  river  rises,"  he  said.  "Some  moons  ago  an 
Indian  woman  warned  us  that  every  fourteen  years 
the  fields  about  are  flooded,  and  the  natives  find 
shelter  in  the  elevated  villages.  Surely  the  time  has 
come  for  the  waters  to  rise  and  cover  the  country 
round  about. 

Higher  and  yet  higher  the  waters  rose.  Next 
day  a  stretch  of  water  lay  before  them,  miles  and 
miles  in  area.  The  threatening  savages  were  thus 
foiled  in  their  attack  on  the  boat  builders  at  Am- 


"THE  BUILDING  OF  THE  SHIPS"      201 

inoya.  Nature  had  favored  the  white  men.  The 
prediction  of  the  woman  was  verified.  As  the  cav 
aliers  looked  forth  upon  the  green  fields  now  trans 
formed  into  a  broad  sea  once  more,  "they  thanked 
God  and  took  courage." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
"THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT." 

The  launching  of  the  boats  was  an  easy  task. 
The  flooded  river  had  come  to  the  Spaniards'  aid. 
It  approached  the  entrance  of  the  camp  and  called 
to  the  ships  to  try  their  skill  at  sailing.  So  in  the 
month  of  June,  after  a  favoring  winter  and  a  pleas 
ant  spring,  the  seven  brigantines  were  launched 
with  surprising  ease  and  with  shouts  of  joy.  In 
great  hope  the  army,  now  one-quarter  its  former 
size,  steered  a  southern  course,  down  the  Missis 
sippi.  The  start  was  thus  propitious.  It  was  fur 
ther  made  amid  kind  farewells  and  hostile  demon 
strations.  The  blessings  of  Anilco  and  Guachoya 
were  blended  with  the  curses  of  the  league  of  tribes 
under  the  domination  of  Quigualtanqui. 

Most  of  the  multitude  of  slaves  they  had  cap 
tured  along  the  way  were  freed.  Only  a  mere 
handful  of  them  continued  with  the  expedition, 
down  the  river  to  the  sea.  Among  those  released 
was  the  beautiful  Indian  woman,  Macanoche.  It 
was  she  who  had  brought  to  Juan,  through  the  la 
mented  Ortiz,  the  report  of  the  blood-stained  gar 
ments  of  a  white  woman,  not  far  from  Pensacola, 
where  the  white  woman,  presumably  Leonora,  had 
implored  the  leaders  of  the  waiting  fleet  to  march 
inland,  taking  her  to  find  the  army  of  de  Soto,  and 
one  of  the  cavaliers  in  particular.  Her  last  words 


"THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT"  203 

at  parting  with  the  Spanish  army  were  with  Juan 
de  Leon. 

"Don't  forget  the  wandering  white  girl,"  said  the 
Indian  woman.  "It  may  be  she  yet  lives,  dragged 
about  a  captive,  as  I  have  been  these  many  moons. 
I  wish  you  well,  white  warrior,  also  her,  and  may 
you  find  her  somewhere  along  the  river  to  the 
south." 

Juan  de  Leon  knew  the  Indian  slave  girl  spoke 
from  sad  experience.  She  had  seen  a  score  of  In 
dian  captives  perish  from  cold  and  insufficient  food, 
and  often  ill-treated  from  the  men,  which  the  con 
dition  of  such  servitude  engendered.  So  she  wished 
Juan  well,  also,  the  hapless  Leonora  could  she  be 
found  alive. 

"The  woman  has  laid  afresh  upon  my  heart  the 
burden  I  have  carried  so  long,"  de  Leon  said,  as 
he  talked  with  Barbidilla,  the  priest.  "There  haunts 
me,  day  and  night,  the  figure  of  that  Spanish  girl, 
led  about,  the  slave  of  some  skulking  red  skin.  That 
bit  of  dress,  blood-stained  and  soiled,  which  Maca- 
noche  showed  to  Ortiz  and  myself,  is  flaunted  in 
my  face." 

"You  may  find  her  yet,  Juan.  Who  knows,  but 
she  is  more  safe  and  prosperous  than  you?" 

"So  I  thought  at  first,  when  in  Cuba,  I  heard  of 
her  strange  departure;  but  the  word  of  the  Indian 
woman  pursues  me  and  makes  me  think  she  suffers 
somewhere,  sad  and  alone,  save  for  the  cruel  hand 
that  holds  her  down." 

The  priest  sought  to  cheer  the  man ;  but  only 
partly  succeeded.  Then  the  conversation  turned  to 


204  IN  QUEST  OF  G'OLD 

the  ships  in  which  they  sailed.  They  praised  their 
workmanship,  and  especially  remarked  upon  the 
courageous  manner  in  which  the  ship  builders  over 
came  all  obstacles  and  had  launched  the  boats  when 
all  nature  smiled  upon  them  and  the  river  was  at 
its  height. 

Presently  the  vessels  sought  the  shore.  The  army 
found  a  spacious  wood,  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
river,  where  the  soldiers  rested ;  but  when  the  night 
closed  down  upon  them,  they  re-embarked  and  con 
tinued  their  course.  The  following  day  again  they 
landed.  Their  stopping  place  was  an  abandoned 
village.  An  Indian  woman,  the  sole  occupant  of  the 
place,  was  taken  prisoner. 

"I  was  left  behind,"  she  said,  "when  the  warriors 
and  the  stronger  wromen  fled  to  join  the  forces  of 
Quigualtanqui,  further  down  the  river.  There  they 
wait  to  attack  the  white  strangers." 

The  woman  told  the  truth,  for  as  they  sailed 
away,  canoes  approached,  hovering  about  with  hos 
tile  menace.  Prepared  for  action,  the  army  studied 
them.  The  boats  of  the  cacique  and  the  chief  men 
were  things  of  beauty,  brilliantly  painted,  both 
within  and  without,  with  paddles,  rowers,  and  even 
the  warriors  themselves,  gorgeously  colored  from 
foot  to  scalping  tuft.  Some  were  blue,  others  yel 
low  or  white,  red,  green,  violet  or  black,  according 
to  the  device  or  taste  of  the  owner.  For  days  this 
rainbow-life  fleet  menaced  the  flying  Spaniards, 
keeping  time  in  rowing  by  chanting  wild  songs  of 
different  cadences,  short  or  long,  slow  or  fast,  ac 
cording  to  the  speed  with  which  they  desired  to 


"THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT"  205 

move  and,  closing  each  chant  with  a  terrific  and 
deafening  yell,  shouting  the  name  of  Quigualtanqui. 
Again  the  peaceful  Father  Barbidilla  sailed  near 
Juan  cle  Leon  and  talked,  for  since  Ortiz  had  been 
taken  and  Gomez  had  decamped  and  the  great  de 
Soto  had  been  laid  away  in  the  river  he  discovered, 
Barbidilla  was  Juan's  chief  confidant. 

The  mad  yell  of  the  defiant  savages  struck  terror 
to  Barbidilla.  The  final  ending  of  the  wild  song 
raised  him  from  his  seat  and  sent  him  sprawling  on 
the  floor  of  the  boat  below.  Recovering  himself, 
he  questioned  Juan. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this  song  these  natives 
sing?  Tell  me,  Juan,"  he  asked. 

Juan  passed  the  question  along  to  an  Indian  cap 
tive  by  his  side. 

"I  cannot  understand  all,"  the  red  servant  said; 
"but  this  much  I  know,  they  praise  in  song  the 
brave  deeds  of  their  ancestors  and  the  daring  ex 
ploits  of  their  chieftain,  by  recalling  the  memory 
of  which  they  rouse  themselves  to  battle.  Still 
further,  they  glorify  their  own  fearlessness  and 
call  the  white  men  cowards  in  flying  from  their 
arms.  They  will  overthrow  our  boats,  they  say, 
and  make  us  food  for  fishes." 

"I  wish  we  had  our  guns  and  powder,"  remarked 
the  Governor.  "Then  we  would  teach  these  na 
tives  something." 

Muscoso  thought  of  Mauvilla,  where  in  that 
frightful  conflagration  the  cavaliers'  supply  of  gun 
powder  had  been  destroyed.  Their  guns  were  later 


206  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

sacrificed  for  nails  and  spikes  in  the  building  of  the 
ships. 

"I  wish  we  had  that  cannon  we  left  with  the 
cacique  at  Ocali,  and  sufficient  ammunition  to  have 
a  dozen  shots  at  some  of  the  leading  canoes,"  said 
Juan. 

Finally,  the  warriors  in  the  boats  did  something 
more  than  row,  sing  and  threaten.  For  several  days 
and  even  in  the  night  they  rained  arrows,  and  the 
Spaniards  were  worn  out  with  fatigue  and  watch 
ing.  When,  therefore,  for  a  season  the  harassing 
warfare  ceased,  in  a  lull  of  the  storm,  the  cavaliers 
landed  to  scour  the  country  and  provision  afresh 
the  ships.  Selecting  a  commodious  harbor,  situated 
by  a  prosperous-looking  Indian  village,  the  vessels 
made  for  shore.  They  mounted  their  horses,  which 
they  carried  with  them,  safely  stabled  in  shelters 
on  two  canoes,  fashioned  like  catamarans.  Among 
the  knights  went  Juan  de  Leon,  and  others  with 
Gonzallos  in  the  lead.  He  led  one  hundred  men. 
Not  every  man  was  mounted,  however,  for  all  the 
horses  they  could  carry  were  but  eight.  The  land 
ing  was  successfully  made,  and  the  village  quickly 
taken. 

The  inhabitants  fled  with  loud  yells  at  the  Span 
iard's  approach,  leaving  behind  them  maize,  dried 
fruits  and  martin  skins  which  the  soldiers  quickly 
seized.  The  white  men  were  strange  people  to  the 
surprised  and  terrified  natives.  The  eight  horses, 
moreover,  struck  the  people  dumb  with  fear.  So 
away  the  Indians  hastened.  As  they  disappeared  in 
the  neighboring  woodlands,  the  eye  of  Juan  de  Leon 


"THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT"  207 

followed  them.  Something  among  the  company  of 
women  arrested  his  attention.  It  was  a  crimson 
garment.  He  rubbed  his  eyes  to  clear  his  startled 
vision  and  looked  a  second  time. 

"Silvestre,"  he  said,  "come  quickly.  Tell  me 
what  you  see  on  yonder  woman?" 

Silvestre  looked  and  slowly  answered:  "A  pe 
culiar  garment  for  an  Indian  girl !  It's  a  red  gown, 
such  as  is  worn  in  Spain." 

The  woman  who  wore  the  robe  was  led  away, 
not  rushing  like  the  rest.  Half  a  league  away  a 
stalwart  warrior  urged  her  on,  assisted  by  another 
woman,  manifestly  a  sturdy  squaw.  Juan  waited 
not  to  question  more,  but  rushed  to  follow  the  flee 
ing  garment  and  its  wearer.  He  pushed  past  Sil 
vestre,  and  as  he  passed  he  cried :  "This  is  surely 
Leonora.  At  last  I  have  found  the  trail  I  have  so 
long  sought.  These  red  men  will  not  escape  just 
punishment." 

Thus  he  forged  ahead  on  foot,  for  Juan's  horse 
was  among  those  sacrificed  at  Aminoya  when  the 
ships  were  built.  The  mounted  Silvestre  watched 
the  young  man  as  he  ran  and  wondered  at  his  words 
of  vengeance.  He  started  to  follow  the  pursuing 
Juan  when  the  trumpet  clamorously  sounded  the 
recall  of  the  troops.  Hurrying  to  the  river  bank 
the  Spaniards  beheld  a  fleet  of  canoes  gliding  toward 
them  with  all  speed.  They  looked  toward  the 
campus  of  the  neighboring  village  and  there  they 
beheld  a  band  of  full-armed  Indians  running  to  cut 
them  off  by  land. 

Silvestre  grasped  the  situation.    They  must  reach 


208  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

the  brigantines  at  once,  or  be  cut  off;  but  as  he 
glanced  again  toward  the  village,  he  saw  the  ardent 
Juan  rushing  headlong,  with  eyes  on  nothing  save 
the  crimson  garment  and  the  girl  who  wore  it. 
Spurring  his  horse,  Silvestre  was  quickly  by  the 
young  man's  side. 

"Come,  Juan,"  he  cried.  "Come,  for  your  life, 
you  must  reach  the  ships  with  us.  The  enemies 
are  upon  us,  both  by  water  and  by  land." 

Then  he  seized  Juan  by  the  shoulder,  took  hold 
of  him  bodily  and  threw  him  unwillingly  on  his 
horse  and  bore  him  to  the  shore.  Springing  into 
their  waiting  canoes,  they  pulled  with  desperate  ef 
fort  toward  the  brigantines,  leaving  their  horses  to 
their  fate.  Once  safe  upon  the  ships  they  watched 
the  slaughter  of  the  gallant  animals  which  had  so 
long  served  them  in  the  wilderness.  As  a  man 
views  the  killing  of  a  friend,  the  cavaliers  beheld 
the  savages  assail  their  trusty  steeds.  The  horses 
kicked  and  plunged  and  terrified  the  red  men,  who 
fancied  them  ferocious  beasts.  Many  of  the  war 
riors  rushed  into  the  river  for  safety;  but  grad 
ually  overcoming  their  fear,  they  hunted  the  poor 
beasts,  like  so  many  deer,  transfixed  them  with  their 
arrows  and  made  an  end  of  them. 

The  Spaniards  then  sailed  away.  Down  the  river 
they  pointed  their  ships.  They  had  lost  their  faith 
ful  animals ;  but  now  they  hoped  the  savages  would 
be  satisfied  and  abandon  the  chase ;  but  not  so. 
The  attacking  fleet  was  not  yet  done  with  them. 
They  still  harassed  the  brigantines,  seeking  to  catch 
them  off  their  guard,  or  take  them  in  some  perilous 


"THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT"  209 

venture.  At  last  the  fatal  hour  came  when  the 
Spaniards  received  a  stunning  blow.  Juan  de  Leon 
sought  to  avert  the  disaster.  Seeing  the  foolhardy 
Estevan  Anez  carry  off  five  cavaliers  of  buoyant 
spirits  and  daring  valor,  he  cried  to  them:  "Stay, 
men,  you  imperil  the  safety  of  the  army  by  this 
folly.  None  of  you  will  ever  come  back  again, 
if  you  attack  yonder  well-trained  fleet." 

Anez  laughed  a  reply.  The  Governor  drew  near. 
"See,  Muscoso,"  cried  de  Leon  in  great  excitement, 
"can't  this  mad  freak  be  stopped  ?" 

"It  will  be  checked,  if  possible,"  responded  the 
Governor,  as  he  ordered  the  trumpets  to  sound  a 
recall. 

The  captains  of  the  brigantines  then  took  up  the 
cry,  shouted  and  made  signs  for  the  reckless  men 
to  return ;  but  the  louder  they  shouted  the  more 
obstinate  and  vainglorious  grew  Estevan  Anez,  as 
he  led  his  followers.  Then  he  made  signs  for  the 
brigantines  to  follow  him.  The  Governor  amazed 
at  this  sign  of  daring  insubordination  vowed  he 
would  hang  the  man  when  he  came  back,  and  at 
once  dispatched  fifty-six  men  in  three  canoes  to 
catch  him. 

But  now  the  calamity  grew.  The  canoes  of 
Spaniards  approached  the  enemies'  crafts.  It  was 
an  unfair  battle,  for  the  brigantines,  although  mak 
ing  strenuous  efforts  to  retrace  their  course  and 
follow  their  comrades,  could  not  do  so,  and  thus 
bring  reinforcements.  From  the  decks  of  their 
ships  they  watched  the  fated  expedition.  The 


210  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

crafty  natives  waited  the  Spaniards'  approach. 
Then  feigned  to  flee. 

"They  simply  seek  to  allure  our  men  further 
away  from  the  ships,"  sighed  Juan. 

"Let's  hope  the  three  canoes  will  check  the  mad 
Anez  and  his  men  or  help  them  in  their  need,"  the 
Governor  said,  hoping  against  hope. 

"We  shall  say  prayers  for  them,"  said  the  priests, 
and  down  on  bended  knees  with  troubled  hearts  and 
voices  turned  heavenward,  the  prayers  were  said. 
But  prayers  do  not  always  offset  the  foolishness  of 
men.  The  sixty-two  Spaniards  and  the  four  frail 
canoes  moved  forward.  The  vessels  of  the  savages 
made  further  retrograde  movement.  It  was  not  re 
treat;  but  studied  stratagem,  and  the  vain  Anez 
knew  it  not.  On  the  Spaniards  sailed,  like  children 
playing  war.  The  men  pulled  with  redoubled 
might  toward  the  foe,  Anez  crying:  "They  fly! 
They  fly  !  At  them  !  At  them !" 

The  three  canoes  also  increased  their  speed,  hop 
ing  either  to  detain  their  comrades  or  succor  them ; 
but  it  was  a  vain  pursuit.  The  anxious  watchers 
on  the  brigantines  pressed  forward  in  all  haste ;  yet, 
feeling  the  best  they  could  do  was  useless.  They 
came  nearer,  but  only  near  enough  to  see  the  skillful 
and  successful  manoeuvers  of  the  savage  fleet. 

As  the  attacking  Spaniards  advanced  the  natives 
altered  the  disposition  of  their  forces.  The  center 
retreated,  so  as  to  form  a  half-moon  and  from  the 
decks  of  their  helpless  ships  the  Governor  and 
Juan,  standing  side  by  side,  saw  their  daring  com 
rades  enter  the  fatal  crescent.  They  saw  some  of 


"THE  CRIMSON  GARMENT"  211 

the  noblest  knights  of  the  expedition  thus  sailing 
to  their  death,  Carlos  Enriquez,  scarce  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  Juan  de  Gurzman,  commander  of  one 
of  the  brigantines,  and  others  just  as  renowned. 

The  white  men  thus  surrounded  fought  in  vain. 
On  front  and  flank  they  were  assailed.  Their  canoes 
were  overturned.  Many  were  carried  down  by  the 
weight  of  their  armor  and  drowned.  Some  who 
kept  themselves  above  the  water  were  shot  with 
arrows,  or  struck  over  the  head  with  paddles.  Oth 
ers  who  clung  to  the  upset  canoes  were  cruelly 
beaten  off.  "In  this  manner  without  being  able  to 
make  the  least  defense,  forty-eight  Spaniards  mis 
erably  perished.  Four  alone  escaped.  One  was 
Pedro  Moron,  the  half-breed,  an  expert  swimmer 
and  exceedingly  skillful  in  the  management  of  a 
canoe.  He  had  fallen  in  the  river,  but  with  great 
dexterity  and  strength  recovered  his  bark  and  made 
his  escape,  bearing  off  with  him  three  other  sol 
diers."  These  were  rescued  by  the  nearest  brigan- 
tine  which  reached  them  just  in  time.  These  four 
alone  survived.  They  told  of  the  fearful  struggle 
of  the  men,  how  it  was  not  a  fight,  but  a  plunge 
into  the  very  jaws  of  death.  The  gallant  de  Guz 
man,  they  said,  was  borne  off  by  the  Indians  in 
one  of  their  canoes,  but  whether  dead  or  alive  they 
could  not  tell. 

"This  was  the  last  assault  of  the  savages,  for 
they  seemed  satisfied  with  this  signal  blow.  All  the 
rest  of  the  day  and  during  the  doleful  night  that 
succeeded  they  kept  up  continual  shouts  and  yells 
of  triumph.  When  the  sun  arose  on  the  following 


212  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

day  they  appeared  to  worship  him  and  to  return 
thanks  for  their  victory,  then,  raising  a  deafening 
din  of  voices,  mingled  with  the  sound  of  trumpets, 
shells  and  drums,  they  turned  their  prows  up  the 
river  and  departed  for  their  homes."  The  harassed 
Spaniards  rejoiced  to  see  their  cruel  enemies  de 
part;  but  sorrowed  long  and  deeply  for  the  loss  of 
such  gallant  soldiers  who  manned  the  four  canoes 
and  sailed  forth  to  death.  Muscoso  felt  the  weight 
of  added  burdens.  The  priests  still  prayed  for  rest 
and  safety  and  Juan  de  Leon  still  sought  the  miss 
ing  Leonora.  Along  the  banks,  his  eyes  often  fixed 
upon  some  moving  figure  of  men  or  women,  as 
he  gazed  he  looked  for  the  crimson  garment,  and 
shaking  his  head  mournfully,  said :  "Perhaps,  some 
where  in  yonder  wilds,  she  wanders." 


CHAPTER  XX. 
"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY." 

The  mighty  river  ran  to  the  gulf  and  the  gulf 
threw  her  arms  open  to  the  sea.  There  sailed  the 
ships  of  Spain.  There  passed  the  caravels  between 
Espiritu  Santo,  on  the  mainland,  and  Havana,  where 
lived  the  waiting  Isabel.  There  also  cruised  the 
fleet  with  reinforcements  for  de  Soto  and  his  men. 
Thrice  had  these  well-freighted  vessels  left  Cuba 
and  sailed  the  gulf  in  quest  of  tidings  from  the 
cavaliers,  who  toiled  somewhere  in  hostile  Florida. 
First,  at  Pensacola,  the  seeking  ships  patiently 
waited  under  command  of  Moldonado  and  Arias, 
generous  and  loyal  knights.  Then  it  was  in  saddest 
disappointment,  the  trusted  Arias  had  said:  "The 
Governor  promised  to  meet  me  here.  We  have 
brought  the  provisions  and  the  reinforcements,  as 
we  said  we  would.  Why  does  he  not  come ;  or,  at 
least,  send  some  of  his  host  as  messengers?"  Then, 
also,  the  maid  appeared,  beseeching  both  the  com 
manders  of  the  fleet  that  they  would  forthwith 
proceed  inland,  taking  her  along,  in  search  of  the 
long-sought  cavaliers. 

"I  have  one  dear  to  me,"  she  said,  "who  travels 
with  the  company.  I  will  follow  if  you  lead  the 
way ;  and  my  strength  is  as  good  as  any  man's 
and  his  courage  is  not  less  great  than  mine." 

Arias  smiled  at  her,  not  in  derision,  but  in  tender- 


214  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

ness  and  pity,  when  he  saw  her  great  determination. 
As  a  father  he  warned  her  of  the  evils  of  the  way. 
His  warning  only  served  to  urge  her  on. 

"I  will  go,  if  I  must  go  alone,"  she  finally  said. 

That  was  the  last  the  Spanish  commander  saw 
of  the  fair  maiden.  She  left  him,  vowing  she  would 
surely  go;  and  her  crimson  gown  fluttered  in 
the  breeze  as  she  went  her  way  with  strong  and 
settled  purpose. 

Then  for  months  the  searching  party  skirted  the 
coast,  separating  and  sailing  in  opposite  directions, 
for  they  said :  "The  Adelantado  might  have  found 
a  port  at  some  other  place  than  that  agreed.  W«i 
will  leave  signals  in  the  trees  and  letters  with  state 
ments  of  our  movements  for  the  summer  which 
follows." 

Accordingly  they  cruised  about  until  winter  came 
upon  them,  but  all  in  vain.  Dejected,  they  made 
their  way  back  to  Havana  and  the  expectant  Isabel. 
A  second  time  their  sea-going  ships  approached  the 
gulf,  coasting  this  time  westward  as  far  as  Mexico. 
Again  they  failed  to  find  the  far-famed  cavaliers 
or  any  trace  of  their  wondrous  expedition.  Back 
again  to  Havana  they  pushed  their  way;  and  once 
more  brought  sad  news  to  Isabel. 

"Go  yet  again,"  the  matron  pleaded.  "A  third 
time,  seeking,  you  must  find.  All  cannot  be  lost 
of  such  a  splendid  army." 

So  in  early  summer  they  again  set  sail.  For 
seven  months  the  fruitless  search  went  on,  inspired 
by  love.  It  was  further  spurred  on  by  eagerness 
to  solve  the  mystery  of  the  fate  of  such  gallant  men 


"THE  PARSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     215 

as  started  with  de  Soto ;  and,  while  these  ships 
sailed  the  gulf,  and  while  Dona  Isabel  watched  upon 
the  Cuban  shores,  and  while  the  Spanish  settle 
ments  along  the  coast  of  Florida  and  Mexico  were 
ever  alert  to  catch  some  tidings  of  their  daring  coun 
trymen,  then  Muscoso  and  the  remnant  of  that 
once  proud  army  followed  the  channel  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  where  slept  the  great  de  Soto  and,  after 
weeks  of  weary  sailing  and  constant  warfare,  sailed 
out  into  the  open  stretch  of  sea  before  them. 

How  glad  were  their  hearts!  but  they  dared  not 
yet  rejoice,  for  the  sea  is  mighty  powerful  and 
mysterious.  Who  can  know  it  or  write  its  history? 
Therefore,  the  way  before  them  was  yet  uncertain. 
Still  with  joy  they  hailed  the  sea.  Like  all  ob 
servers  of  the  ocean,  they  drew  peace  from  its 
great  depths,  listened  with  attention  to  its  noisy 
shallows,  and  found  therein  rest  and  refreshment 
for  their  continued  journey.  Now  they  followed 
the  shore.  Again  they  ventured  out  and  took  the 
course  of  the  mighty  ships  which  sail  the  deep. 
Again  they  hugged  the  coast,  looking  for  some  smil 
ing  harbor,  where  some  vestiges  of  Spain  and  Span 
ish  life  would  greet  their  eyes.  For  days  and  nights 
they  sailed,  uncertain,  unskilled  and  unprepared  to 
face  the  storms  which  so  often  befell  them.  But  a 
kind  Providence  led  them  surer  than  they  knew. 

At  last,  after  many  months  of  skirting  the  shore, 
through  dangers  of  the  deep  and  perils  of  the 
rocky  coast,  they  saw  what  made  their  hearts  re 
joice.  Great  palm  trees  graced  the  water's  edge, 
not  many  miles  away.  As  the  delighted  cavaliers 


ai6  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

drew  nearer,  high  mountains  loomed,  rising  heaven 
ward,  in  the  misty  distance. 

"We  have  passed  the  River  of  Palms,"  cried 
Anasco,  the  pilot  of  the  fleet.  "Last  night,  uncon 
sciously,  we  sailed  by.  But  sixty  leagues  beyond 
we  shall  find  the  River  of  Panuco  and  along  that 
river  lie  the  Spanish  settlements  we  seek." 

The  seven  brigantines  advanced.  Eagerly  the 
men  steered  their  crafts.  They  now  dared  think  of 
home  once  more,  of  distant  Spain  and  hospitable 
Cuba.  They  remembered  the  comrades,  left  behind, 
in  leafy  forest,  by  pool  and  miry  swampland,  or 
along  the  sullen  Mississippi.  With  the  land  so  near 
a  violent  gale  arose. 

"So  near  and  yet  so  far  away  from  those  kindly 
shores  we  seek,"  said  Juan,  who  still  thought  of 
one  wandering,  he  knew  not  where. 

"Thinking  of  her  again?"  The  question  was  put 
to  him  by  Juan  Gaytan,  royal  treasurer  and  captain 
of  the  brigantine,  once  sailed  by  the  brave  Guzman. 

"Yes,  Gaytan,"  replied  Juan,  "I  am  thinking  of 
her;  and  no  better  subject  could  be  found.  But, 
now,  what  are  you  thinking  about?"  continued  de 
Leon.  "See,  a  flaw  has  struck  our  ship." 

Gaytan  was  a  better  treasurer  than  captain,  as 
events  proved.  He  did  not  see  the  squall  which 
swooped  down  upon  the  boat.  The  other  brigan 
tines,  taking  timely  warning  of  the  coming  gale,  had 
sought  shelter  beneath  the  brow  of  the  neighboring 
harbor;  but  the  craft  Gaytan  commanded  was  ex 
posed  the  whole  night  long  to  the  fury  of  the  tem 
pest. 


"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     217 

"Gaytan,"  said  Juan,  "let  me  tell  you  your  crew 
is  growing  mutinous.  The  morning  is  now  come 
and  your  prophecy  is  not  fulfilled.  I  see  no  lull  in 
the  storm.  It  gathers  with  fresh  violence.  The 
other  brigantines  have  entered  the  river  and  an 
chored  in  safety ;  but  we  are  off  shore,  buffeted 
by  the  wind  and  storm ;  and  who  can  tell  now 
whether  we  will  ever  reach  the  land  at  all?" 

De  Leon  ceased  speaking;  but  his  words  were 
quickly  reinforced  by  a  mutinous  band  of  soldiers. 
Among  the  company  was  a  Spanish  boy  who  had 
previously  sailed  that  coast.  This  youth  had  told 
the  knights  in  Gaytan's  command  that  the  shore 
before  them  was  dangerous. 

"Senores,"  he  said,  "I  know  this  coast  ahead. 
I  have  visited  it  twice  before,  as  cabin-boy  of  a 
coasting  vessel ;  the  dark  land  stretching  along  to 
the  left  is  a  rough  and  rock-bound  coast,  extending 
to  the  harbor  of  Vera  Cruz.  In  all  that  distance 
there  is  neither  port  nor  shelter.  The  shore  is 
studded  with  sharp-pointed  rocks  which,  if  we 
strike,  all  will  be  lost.  The  light-colored  land  turn 
ing  off  to  the  right  is  a  soft  sand  beach.  This  we 
can  attain  before  nightfall.  Should  the  wind  drive 
us  upon  those  dark  and  gloomy  shores,  we  have 
little  chance  for  our  lives." 

The  advice  to  Gaytan  was  gratuitous. 

"Why  drive  thus  on  the  shore  and  smash  our 
ship?"  he  said. 

"Is  this  vessel  of  more  worth  than  our  lives?" 
the  exasperated  crew  cried  out.  "You  presume 
upon  your  rank  of  royal  treasurer.  But,  tell  us, 


2i8  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

Gaytan,"  they  derisively  said.  "Tell  us,  did  you 
cut  wood  or  make  charcoal  for  the  forges,  or  beat 
out  the  iron  for  the  nails,  or  calk  the  vessel,  or  do 
anything  else?  No!  you  excused  yourself  as  an 
officer  of  the  Emperor;  pray,  then,"  they  queried, 
"what  do  you  lose  if  the  brigantine  is  wrecked?" 

Then  the  soldiers  trimmed  the  sail,  seized  the 
helm  and  turned  the  prow  of  the  bark  toward  the 
desired  shore.  They  struck  upon  the  sandy  beach 
before  the  sun  went  down  that  day,  unloaded  the 
vessel  and  hauled  her  well  up  on  dry  land.  The 
other  vessels  also  reached  the  land  in  safety;  and 
all  the  seven  brigantines,  which  they  built  at  Am- 
inoya  in  like  manner,  landed  their  cargo  and  human 
freight  in  good  sailor  fashion. 

And  now  the  scouting  parties  set  out  in  search 
of  tokens  of  Spanish  civilization.  They  found  it 
presently  in  the  following  violent  manner.  Silves- 
tre  led  a  band  of  men  a  short  distance  inland.  Be 
fore  them  spread  a  charming  lake  of  fresh  water. 
On  its  rippling  surface  floated  several  canoes  with 
Indians  fishing  therefrom.  Fearing  these  natives 
might  spread  an  alarm,  the  men  then  skirted  the 
borders  of  the  lake,  and,  keeping  silently  on  their 
way  a  little  longer,  they  espied  two  Indians  beneath 
a  huge  guava-tree,  gathering  fruit.  Crawling 
through  the  thicket,  the  whole  band  rose  at  the 
same  time  and  rushed  to  seize  them.  One  plunged 
into  the  lake  and  escaped  by  swimming,  the  other 
they  took  prisoner.  Then  they  made  prize  of  two 
baskets  of  guavas,  a  Mexican  turkey,  two  Spanish 


"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     219 

fowls  and  some  maize  and  returned  with  their 
capture  to  their  comrades  on  the  shore. 

At  the  camp  they  found  their  fellows  full  of 
joy.  Another  searching  party  had  already  brought 
other  tokens  of  the  Spanish  settlements.  When, 
however,  they  beheld  the  articles  Silvestre  had  se 
cured  they  leaped  for  joy  and  danced  about  like 
mad.  Then  they  questioned  the  Indian  they  had 
captured.  Holding  before  him  a  pair  of  scissors, 
they  asked  him  in  Spanish:  "What  is  this?"  Im 
mediately  he  answered,  calling  it  by  its  Spanish 
name.  They  were  now  convinced  that  they  were  in 
the  territory  of  Mexico  and  indulged  in  further 
joyous  demonstration.  Muscoso  and  his  ship-load 
found  another  helpful  Indian.  This  native  told 
them  of  a  Christian  cacique,  who  could  read  and 
write  and  had  been  educated  by  the  priests. 

Messengers  were  quickly  sent  and  found  the  chief, 
who  returned  with  them,  accompanied  by  eight 
servants,  laden  with  fowls,  bread  of  maize  and  va 
rious  fruits  and  fish.  Again  the  cavaliers  rejoiced. 
Finally,  the  whole  company  of  the  little  fleet  found 
their  way  to  the  Panuco  river  and  to  the  town  of 
the  same  name,  fifteen  leagues  up  the  stream.  There 
they  repaired  to  the  church  and  offered  devout 
thanksgiving  to  God  "for  having  preserved  them 
through  so  many  perils  and  hardships." 

The  forlorn  remnant  of  a  gallant  army  passed 
into  the  little  town  of  Panuco.  It  was  a  company 
of  blackened,  haggard,  shriveled  and  half-naked 
adventurers.  Clad  in  skins  of  deer,  buffaloes,  bears 
and  other  animals,  the  Spanish  narrator  says :  "they 


220  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

looked  more  like  beasts  than  human  beings."  The 
seventy  families  or  more  of  the  village  turned  out 
with  one  accord  to  welcome  them.  Among  the 
people  which  flocked  to  greet  the  cavaliers  was  an 
old  man  named  de  Marchine.  His  little  house  stood 
on  the  street,  along  which  the  bedraggled  army 
trailed  its  way.  This  man  pushed  toward  the  lead 
ers  of  the  soldiers. 

"Tell  me,"  he  said,  in  great  excitement,  "tell  me 
is  the  cavalier  Juan  de  Leon  still  alive  and  now 
among  your  ranks?" 

The  man  was  told  the  person  he  sought  was  with 
Muscoco  at  the  head  of  the  troops.  He  dashed 
away  as  though  his  youth  had  been  restored  to  him. 

Then  he  accosted  the  Governor.  "Are  you  de 
Leon?"  he  asked. 

"No,"  Muscoso  answered.  Then  turning  to  Juan 
the  commander  said :  "Here,  Juan,  is  some  old 
friend  who  wants  to  see  you." 

Juan  turned  aside  from  his  comrades.  The  old 
man's  face  was  not  familiar;  but  when  the  name 
was  given,  Juan  started. 

"De  Marchine,"  echoed  Juan.  "Your  name's 
Marchine?  That  name  sounds  sweet  to  me.  I 
knew  a  maid  who  bore  that  name.  I  have  sought 
her  long  and  seek  her  yet.  But,  tell  me,  friend, 
why  do  you  seek  me  out?  Have  you  news  of 
Seville,  home  and  distant  friends  to  bring  me?" 

"I  have,"  the  man  replied,  "but  I  have  further 
information." 

"Tell  it  quickly,"  Juan  said.  "I  must  not  lose 
the  company  of  the  Governor." 


"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     221 

"  'Tis  soon  explained,"  the  old  man  responded. 
"I  have  a  niece.  Her  name  is  Leonora." 

"Leonora,  Leonora,"  breathed  Juan.  Then  he 
grasped  the  old  man  by  both  shoulders,  saying: 
"Your  Leonora  must  be  mine,  the  girl  I  seek." 

"If  your  name  is  Juan  de  Leon,"  said  the  man, 
"my  niece  is  surely  she.  Come  to  my  house.  I 
have  her  picture  there.  You  can  study  it." 

"But,  good  man,"  Juan  said  appealing.  "But, 
where  is  Leonora  now?  For  many  days  this  ques 
tion  has  rent  my  heart.  At  Havana  I  asked  the 
gracious  Dona  Isabel.  She  simply  told  me  the  girl 
had  gone ;  whither,  she  could  not  tell.  Then  all 
along  the  way  the  query  has  rung  through  my 
soul :  'Where  is  Leonora  now  ?'  Only  in  my  dreams 
did  I  solve  that  problem ;  as  I  slept  my  restless  sleep 
on  beds  of  pine  boughs,  in  the  open  air,  or  as  I 
laid  me  down  by  the  fire  at  night  within  some  In 
dian's  borrowed  wigwam.  When  we  neared  the 
great  river,  a  slave  girl  brought  the  message  of  a 
Spanish  girl  who  met  the  ships  at  Pensacola.  But 
this  information  only  troubled  me  the  more,  for  the 
Indian  maiden  described  how  this  girl  who  seemed 
like  Leonora,  plunged  into  the  forest  after  the  cap 
tains  of  the  vessels  had  refused  to  make  an  expe 
dition  inland.  Then  along  the  Mississippi,  as  we 
neared  the  sea,  I  saw  a  crimson  robe,  such  as  Leo 
nora  wore  when  last  I  saw  her  on  the  wharf  in 
Cuba,  when  she  waved  her  hand  to  me  as  our  ships 
sailed  away." 

"The  crimson  robe!"  exclaimed  the  old  man,  as 


222  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

he  laughed.  "Well,"  he  chuckled.  "That  will  be 
explained  to  you." 

"By  whom  ?"  Juan  demanded.  "By  Leonora  her 
self,"  the  uncle  answered. 

Juan's  mind  was  now  somewhat  at  ease,  but  not 
fully  at  rest.  He  was  anxious  to  see  her  he  sought 
so  long,  take  her  in  his  arms,  ask  her  many  ques 
tions  and  do  to  her  what  long-lost  heroes  do  to 
long-sought  lovers  whom  they  find.  The  two  men, 
then,  hurrying  forward  again,  walked  with  the 
Governor.  Muscoso  greeted  the  old  man  pleasantly. 

"We  stop  at  the  chief  magistrate's  house  to 
night,"  Muscoso  said.  "Juan  will  abide  with  me. 
Come  and  see  us  in  the  morning.  Farewell" ;  and 
the  aged  de  Marchine  was  gone. 

The  home  of  the  chief  magistrate  was  a  simple 
one ;  yet  a  home  of  evident  abundance,  presided  over 
by  its  head,  a  courteous  cavalier  who  understood 
the  ways  of  Spanish  hospitality.  There  the  officers 
of  the  army  were  feasted  in  royal  fashion.  A  mes 
senger  was  at  once  dispatched  to  Don  Antonis  de 
Mendoza,  the  viceroy  of  Mexico,  which  city  lay 
some  seventy  leagues  distant,  apprising  the  viceroy 
of  the  return  of  the  sad  remnant  of  de  Soto's  mag 
nificent  army.  Word  was  immediately  returned 
that  the  men  should  be  shown  every  kindness  and 
honor,  furnished  with  whatever  was  necessary  for 
their  journey,  when  sufficiently  recovered  from  their 
fatigues. 

The  message  of  the  gallant  cavaliers'  return, 
however,  was  carried  further  than  Mexico  City. 
The  cruising  fleet  of  Arias  and  Moldonado,  now  on 


"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     223 

their  third  voyage  of  loving  search,  received  the 
news.  Hurrying  back  to  Cuba,  with  the  informa 
tion  which  cleared  the  mystery  of  the  absent  army, 
they  gently  broke  the  news  to  Dona  Isabel.  "Dur 
ing  three  long  years  she  had  been  racked  with  anx 
iety  for  the  safety  of  her  husband,  and  now  came 
the  news  of  the  failure  of  his  magnificent  enter 
prise,  the  loss  of  his  vast  treasures,  the  ruin  of  his 
estate,  the  downfall  of  his  house  and  his  own  melan 
choly  death.  It  was  an  overwhelming  blow;  Dona 
Isabel  never  held  up  her  head  from  this  time,  but 
died  shortly  of  a  broken  heart."  The  solving  of  the 
mystery  killed  her. 

That  night  Juan  de  Leon  was  to  stop  at  the 
chief  magistrate's  house.  It  would  not  be  strange 
to  say  the  house  of  the  magistrate,  or  any  other 
house,  save  one  in  all  Panuco,  could  not  hold  him 
that  night.  Excusing  himself  soon  after  the  evening 
meal,  he  sallied  forth  to  find  the  home  of  the  aged 
de  Marchine.  On  the  principal  street,  where  lay 
the  shops  of  the  town,  he  met  the  priests  Barbidilla 
and  Phillipe.  They  greeted  one  another  cordially, 
asked  the  errand  each  pursued  and,  when  Juan  told 
them  of  his  search,  the  men  who  married  people 
were  at  once  keenly  interested.  From  a  store  near 
by  de  Leon  learned  where  Leonora's  uncle  lived. 
Then  he  paused  a  moment. 

"But,"  said  he  to  Barbidilla,  "I  did  not  inquire 
whether  Leonora  now  makes  her  home  with  this 
uncle  of  hers." 

"She  does,"  the  priest  volunteered.  "The  old 
man,  her  uncle,  talked  with  me  after  he  parted 


224  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

company  with  you  this  afternoon,  and  told  me  how 
to  reach  his  house." 

"This  seems  providential,  Barbidilla.  Come  along 
with  me,  and  you  also,  Phillipe,"  he  added.  "I 
may  need  you  both  to  tie  the  knot  at  once  and  thus 
have  it  absolutely  secure." 

Further  down  the  main  street  the  man  turned 
aside,  walked  a  short  distance,  then  Barbidilla  ob 
served:  "Yonder,  I  should  judge,  is  the  house." 

Juan  pushed  forward  in  hot  haste.  He  knocked, 
heard  someone  coming  to  the  door.  Without  wait 
ing  further,  he  entered.  Before  him,  in  the  shadow 
of  the  doorway,  stood  a  woman,  tall,  formly,  of 
beautiful,  yet  sad  face.  The  woman  started  back. 

"Whom  do  you  wish  to  see,  sir?"  she  said, 
amazed  that  a  man  should  thus  intrude  upon  the 
quiet  home.  Back  of  the  woman  a  man's  face  ap 
peared.  It  was  the  uncle  de  Marchine. 

"Let  him  in,  Leonora,"  de  Marchine  called,  "and 
you  also,  good  fathers."  The  party  entered.  Juan 
and  the  woman,  who  was  none  other  than  the  lost 
Leonora,  plainly  needed  no  introduction.  An  em 
brace  and  a  pair  of  manly  lips  pressed  against  a 
woman's  face  barred  the  passageway  a  moment,  as 
the  company  pushed  their  way  into  the  little  home. 

"These  are  my  friends,  Leonora,"  de  Leon  said. 
"This  is  Father  Phillipe,  and  this  is  Father  Bar 
bidilla.  They  belong  to  our  expedition  and  have 
gone  through  the  same  trials  as  the  rest  of  us.  I 
met  them  on  the  way  to  find  you;  and  told  them, 
perhaps,  the  meeting  was  providential,  for  I  will 
not  let  you  slip  away  from  me  again.  Barbidilla, 


"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     225 

are  you  ready?  and  you,  Phillipe?  Pardon  me," 
the  ardent  lover  said,  turning  to  Leonora  once 
more  and  asking:  "But,  dear,  are  you  now  ready?" 

Then  there  was  a  pause.  The  woman's  head 
dropped ;  but  her  eyes  were  yet  lifted  to  those  of 
Juan.  A  happy  smile  suffused  her  face.  She  an 
swered :  "Yes." 

The  priests  and  the  uncle,  together  with  Juana, 
Leonora's  cousin,  shrewdly  left  the  couple  to  them 
selves  awhile. 

"Come,"  called  the  uncle ;  "let  me  show  you  some 
curios  I  have  collected.  I  have  them  in  this  other 
room.  Come,  this  way.' 

So  Juan  and  Leonora  were  left  alone.  They 
talked ;  not  all  talk,  of  course ;  but  yet  in  hurried 
sentences  Juan  told  his  bride-to-be  of  the  country 
he  had  visited,  its  people  and  the  wonderful  ex 
periences  of  de  Soto's  army.  He  told  how  the 
great  commander  passed  away  and  rested  beneath 
the  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  how  Rodrique  Gomez 
disappeared  with  the  Indian  girl  he  loved,  how  the 
subtle  Tachuco  followed  the  expedition  and  wreaked 
his  vengeance  all  the  way  from  the  coast  to  the 
great  river  on  the  west.  He  related  to  her  his 
dreams  which  brought  her  vision  to  his  mind,  and 
how  the  Indian  captive  rehearsed  the  story  of  the 
white  girl  who  met  the  fleet  at  Pensacola,  looking 
for  some  one  in  the  party  of  de  Soto. 

"It  was  a  girl  in  a  crimson  gown,"  Juan  said,  "a 
dress  like  yours.  Tell  me,  Leonora,  was  it  you?" 

The  maiden  made  admission. 

"I  thought  so,"  said  the  man ;  "but  what  troubled 


226  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

me  most  was  this,  the  woman  said,  when  Captain 
Arias  would  not  lead  you  to  our  party,  you  plunged 
into  the  forest,  vowing  you  would  go  alone." 

"I  did  say  that,  or  something  like  it,"  Leonora 
answered;  "but  I  was  not  all  alone.  My  good 
uncle  was  with  me,  also  my  Cousin  Juana;  not 
with  me  when  I  talked  to  the  captain,  but  with  me 
in  Pensacola.  I  passed  through  the  wood  by  a 
short  cut  to  reach  their  stopping  place.  In  my 
haste  my  hand  was  scratched  and  my  dress  was 
soiled.  I  took  off  my  kerchief  and  wiped  the  blood 
from  my  hands,  which  left  the  kerchief  somewhat 
soiled,  blood-marked." 

"But,  Leonora,"  Juan  further  questioned,  "did 
you  save  the  blood-stained  kerchief?" 

"Not  long,"  came  the  reply.  "I  will  tell  you  what 
next  happened  to  me  as  I  hastened  home.  Some 
Indians  met  me  on  the  way.  They  greatly  admired 
my  crimson  dress.  One  of  them,  a  chief's  squaw, 
wished  to  purchase  it.  I  agreed  to  part  with  it; 
for,  you  know  how  long  I  had  worn  it." 

"I  do  know,"  observed  de  Leon.  "You  wore  it 
as  you  waved  to  me  from  the  quay  at  Havana." 

"Well,"  she  continued,  "I  was  not  loath  to  part 
with  it.  So  I  struck  a  bargain  with  the  Indians, 
throwing  in  also  the  blood-stained  kerchief.  For 
these  things  they  gave  me  a  string  of  pearls  and  a 
beautiful  martin  skin.  Uncle  laughed  when  I  re 
turned  and  told  him  of  my  bargain.  'You  would 
make  a  great  merchant/  he  said  with  a  smile." 

"I  understand  now,"  Juan  thoughtfully  said.  "It 
was  on  this  wise;  those  Indians  bought  of  you  that 


"THE  PASSING  OF  THE  MYSTERY"     227 

robe  and  kerchief  and  with  those  articles  passed  up 
the  Mississippi.  I  tell  you  now  what  I  have  not 
yet  had  time  to  tell  you :  I  saw  that  crimson  gown, 
worn  by  the  Indian  woman.  At  first  I  thought  she 
was  my  Leonora  and  went  to  your  rescue — as  I 
supposed,  at  peril  of  my  life.  Now  I  understand. 
I  also  saw  the  kerchief.  The  Indian  slave,  a  prin 
cess  she  said  she  was,  wore  it  about  her  neck,  and 
when  she  told  the  story  of  the  white  woman  at  the 
ships,  she  waved  the  kerchief  in  the  air.  For  many 
days  has  the  terrible  thought  haunted  me  that  you 
were  harshly  used  and  carried  away,  a  slave.  But, 
now,  my  Leonora,  all  is  well." 

As  the  cavalier  held  the  lady  in  his  arms,  the 
token  that  "all  was  well,"  the  uncle  and  the  waiting 
party  were  returning. 

"We  don't  want  to  interrupt,"  the  uncle  said. 
"But  these  priests  seem  restless." 

"The  best  cure  for  their  restlessness,"  rejoined 
de  Leon,  "is  to  keep  them  busy.  So,  my  good 
priests,  prepare  for  a  wedding.  Leonora  and  I  are 
ready  now." 

The  wedding  day  was  bright  with  pleasant  hopes, 
passed  away  with  honest  cheer  and  the  glow  still 
rested  on  the  honeymoon.  Along  the  highway  to 
the  renowned  city  of  Mexico,  there  passed  a  little 
army.  The  people  by  the  way  saluted,  cheered  and 
praised  the  soldiers  as  they  passed. 

"Brave  men,"  they  said.  "What  hardships  they 
have  suffered!  Would  the  great  de  Soto  were 
among  them !" 

The  troops  now  entered  the  city  proper.  Throngs 


228  IN  QUEST  OF  GOLD 

of  citizens  flocked  to  welcome  them.  They  led 
them  to  their  homes,  feasted  them  and  clothed  them 
in  sumptuous  apparel.  Among  the  cavaliers  rode 
a  woman,  the  only  woman  in  the  line  of  march. 

The  viceroy  by  Muscoso's  side  put  the  question 
to  the  Governor :  "Who  is  the  woman  in  your  com 
pany  ?" 

"A  bride,"  came  the  answer.  "The  bride  of 
Juan  de  Leon,  cavalier  and  one  of  the  leaders  of 
our  army." 

"But,  the  woman,"  continued  the  viceroy,  "did 
she  pass  through  your  campaigns  ?" 

"Not  all  of  them,"  Muscoso  answered.  "She 
sailed  with  our  fleet  from  Spain,  was  with  us  in 
Cuba  where  we  left  her.  She  sought  us  again  at 
Pensacola  and  would  have  followed  us,  if  the  cap 
tains  of  the  fleet  had  led  an  expedition  inland.  De 
Leon,  who  had  sought  her  as  lost  for  many  days, 
found  her  at  last,  at  Panuco.  They  are  now  on 
their  honeymoon.  The  reverend  fathers  by  your 
side  can  tell  you  more.  They  did  the  deed." 

"And  'twas  well  done,"  rejoined  the  priests. 

"De  Leon,  I  congratulate  you,"  said  the  viceroy, 
drawing  near  and  greeting  both  Juan  and  Lenora. 
"My  best  wishes,  also  to  you,  my  good  woman. 
The  search  for  gold  has  failed ;  but  this  other  search, 
I  see,  is  crowned  with  victory." 

FINIS. 


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